Search - Sworn Enemy :: As Real As It Gets

Real?

Janitor X | The Mountains | 07/04/2004

(2 out of 5 stars)

"It seems like the appearance of the band members is just as important as the sound of their music. Maybe that's because of the standards set by the music critics or MTV, but when bands put pictures of themselves on the front or back cover of their album it seems they want to be judged by their appearance. Sworn Enemy seems to want to be seen as streetwise, tough guys.
It takes much more than large biceps, tattoos, and pierced eyebrows to look "hard." Anybody can take steroids, get tattoos, get pierced, and wear a chain wallet for the right price. Doing those things only means that people have money to spend on their image.
The way to look hard is to have missing teeth, nasty facial scars, a glass eye, and warts. Those are the type of things you have to earn from living life on the streets. You won't see anybody with those type of fashion accessories on MTV. Lemmy from Motorhead is a great example of a musician that looks hard. Do you see his face plastered all over magazine covers and MTV?Once you get past Sworn Enemy's image, there isn't anything special about them. The type of metal-hardcore they play has already been done to death by bands like Agnostic Front and Madball in the '90's. Take the music of Hatebreed and the vocal sound of Converge and you have "As Real As It Gets." The guitar, bass, and drums are descent, but the vocals are very annoying. The lyrics are another attempt to convey the "tough guy" attitude and are very predictable.Once again, the major label record companies, like Elektra who released this album, seem to be about ten years behind the underground."

Hardcore at its best

john doe | Long Island, New York | 03/31/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"After hearing Sworn Enemy's debut EP "Negative Outlook", and seeing them in Brooklyn with Arch Enemy adn God Forbid, I was waitin anxiously for this album to come out. It doesn't dissapoint. "Sworn Enemy" and "As Real As It Gets" are definitely some of the best songs I've heard in a while. Doesn't get 5 stars because of Sal's voice, I'm not sure why he developed a more screechy vocal style, liked his vocals on their older stuff better. But still a must listen for anyone into hardcore in the vein of Madball, Biohazard, and Hatebreed."

Good crossover

A. Stutheit | Denver, CO USA | 10/25/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The band Mindset formed in 1997 as a very influential product of the world-renowned New York City Hardcore scene. And when the band changed their name to Sworn Enemy in 2001, it also signaled a new rebirth of sorts, because not long thereafter, the band officially graduated from traditional hardcore to crossover/metalcore. As a result, the hardcore elements remain firmly in tact on Sworn Enemy's first full-length release, 2003's "As Real As It Gets." But it also adopts an undeniable metallic edge, as evidenced by the crisp and clear production job (courtesy of Hatebreed's Jamey Jasta), ample thrash riffs, abrasive, almost black metal-style vocals from frontman Sal Lococo, and even a guitar solo! On the whole, the sound is akin to Madball and/or Ringworm meets Anthrax meets Hatebreed meets Slayer.



There are two main focal points on this album. The first is guitarist Lorenzo Antonucci, who comes up with easily some of the best, sharpest, catchiest, chunkiest, and most white-hot riffs you will hear on any hardcore-based album this side of Terror's "Always the Hard Way." Just about any track on here has the potential to cause huge mosh pits when played live thanks to the sheer force, energy, and aggression that Lorenzo puts into pounding out the riffs. And the second of which is Sal's lyrics. Though they are often laced with pure hardcore mentality (i.e. "Disrespect me...I'll pound your face out!"), they are usually more intelligent (if not quite thought-provoking) than what fans of this genre are used to hearing. (Want proof? See tracks one and three, which have dare-I-say-sensitive tributes to the 9/11 attacks, and the last song, which is a shockingly admirable reference to Jesus dying on the cross for "your sins.") Oh sure, Sal's lyrics can't help but be a bit silly once in a while, but even in those instances, they still score points for being very inspired and powerful.



The song "Sworn Enemy" is a good intro song to get the listener's blood pumping. It begins with a bit of ominous feedback before seguing into some nice, fiery riffs. Next up, "One Way Trip," boasts hooky, booming, lumbering power chords, a memorable shout-along refrain, and the album's only and aforementioned guitar solo (it may last all of five seconds, but it's pretty sweet and ripping - Kerry King must be smiling in approval.) The title track is of note for its livid, maniacal vocals and lyrics, and some hefty, well-placed double bass kicks near the end. Other recommended tracks include the strong, driving, churning guitar lead behind "My Misery," the catchy, chugging, stomping groove and fairly strong, humming bass line of "Fallen Grave," and the closer, "These Years," which begins with a nice acoustic intro followed by a scorching pick slide.



No, "As Real As It Gets" might not the most innovative or unique piece of music out there, but it is definitely a worthwhile listen for all fans interested in hardcore, metalcore, crossover, and even traditional thrash. A good and very solid and promising effort all-around from Sworn Enemy."