Search - Bloodlined Calligraphy :: They Want You Silent

Could be better, could be worse

Claude Weiss | 04/10/2007

(2 out of 5 stars)

"They Want You Silent, the first full-length by the metallic hardcore band Bloodlined Calligraphy, is an average metallic hardcore album that, unfortunately, doesn't manage to really stand out from others in the genre. While the album has admirable intensity and good production, it has nothing distinguishing--it feels like an album that any one of a dozen bands could have put out.



The album starts with the song "Shall We Dance", a song that, despite its quick tempo, is hampered by lead guitar riffs that seem strangely familiar and rhythm guitar parts that overuse machine-gun-like palm-muting to an unfortunate extent. The next track, "Demonstrating My Style", can be described similarly, with somewhat different riffs but an identical style and tone. Indeed, after the first track you are given nine more that are almost indistinguishable from the first. Are the songs good? Perhaps, but they grow monotonous even in this less-than-a-half-hour-in-length album.



The album is, I admit, well put together. The riffs, sounding rather melo-death inspired, are a lot less repetitive than those of many other bands. The vocals are extreme, even by metalcore standards, ranging from highs reminiscent of black metal to lows sounding much like As I Lay Dying. The rhythm guitar is typically solid, if dull, although it does manage to totally ruin songs at a few points with sheer monotony, such as in the ending of "Hammer to Nail". For a band that has nothing new to offer, Bloodlined Calligraphy stylishly presents riffs that you've heard dozens of times before.



They Want You Silent is an album that should satisfy some devoted fans of hardcore and newcomers to the genre. Those seeking the exceptional, however, should go somewhere else. Bloodlined Calligraphy is never outright awful, but neither are they a standout band in their crowded scene.

"

What i think

A. French | 02/25/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I think the review below this one is not very insightful. If you pick up our first CD, you will see that my vocal talent is just as good as Angela. For they want you silent, I decided to lay back a little and let everyone else in the band have the spotlight. Pick up our EP, The Beginning of the End, and you will see that I do have the ability, I just have tact to know when I should/shouldn't showcase my full talent.



Screaming low and high is great - but it wasn't appropriate for the full length.



-Ally BLC"

Average

Chris Conlan (BreakingCustom.com) | Iowa | 08/07/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Review by Cory Rennison:



Let's get right down to the point. Bloodlined Calligraphy is another one of those mosh bands that mixes elements of hardcore and metal. The lyrics are all about friends, family, politics, and "moving the floor". The one thing that does however set this "tough guy hardcore" band apart from others is that a girl fronts it. The first comparison someone will make to this band is the most obvious one, being Walls of Jericho.



Apparently the band sensed that people would make this comparison because they actually put Walls of Jericho vocalist, Candace Kucsulain, on the track "Know When To Hold `Em" in which the two vocalists work very well together in bringing an onslaught of some hardcore vocal assault. The thing that sets Bloodlined Calligraphy vocalist Ally French from Candace is that Ally can pull off the lower vocals much better and she could probably appeal to individuals that find Candace's vocals on the Walls of Jericho albums "annoying". Instrumentally, there isn't really anything to special here, just your usual jun-jun-jun mosh fest. However, the band does manage to hold their own and make some heavy music for you to blast on your stereo and raise hell at their shows.



Anyone expecting anything more than your average mosh metal with this band will be disappointed. However, if you're just looking for a consistently heavy album with a female vocalist that doesn't use distortion and just runs on her own raw emotion, then this band will really shine."