Be Mine, Valentine

Drop Dead, Gorgeous' label touted their EP Be Mine, Valentine as "the ultimate break-up album." This is true, in a sense: any relationship that had this record in constant rotation would almost certainly breakup. With half of the band still in high school (and together for less than a year), their immaturity shows — from their formulaic, grueling take on post-hardcore/metal to their distraught emo-esque lyrics that make trendy use of dark and murderous imagery. Chugging through six songs in 12 minutes, the band sports angular guitars, metal breakdowns, and shrieking/growling vocals that spew sentiments like "Do you believe in love at first sight?/'Cause you look so graceful burning alive." At times, it sounds like they're trying to incorporate more elements than they really know what to do with ("Bullets Are Scene"), but hopefully that'll all be smoothed out as the band matures and finds its own identity. As most of the songs are less than two minutes long, the record seems to end before it even really starts; however, fans of Norma Jean and Fear Before the March of Flames may still enjoy the brutal echo left in Drop Dead's wake.