September

Of all the metal sounds that caught on in the late 90's, the one that should have gotten more attention was the hissing, angry stylings of the Deftones. Where a hundred different bands tried to emulate Limp Bizkit and Alice in Chains, only a few pattemted to carry on the delicate rage of the San Francisco foursome. Still Breathing is one of those bands, spilling out angry tracks in a similar fashion with razor sharp riffs and hoarse vocals. Singer Dacey Buntin is one of the most impressive female vocalists in the genre, her venomous roar is a unique and impressive device that can alternate between an exhausted whisper to a volatile screech with ease. The band is also quite impressive, delivering molten chunks of guitar and bass while the tribal beats from drummer John Hensley. Producer Travis Wyrick (Wrick, Nailed) has an excellent ear for this type of music, giving it the kind of savage sound that rarely appears on independent metal albums. The band also has a relatively positive message, driving home points about self-opinion and escapism that are well thought out and articulate. This is no doubt because of their Christian beliefs, but they approach it more like Henry Rollins or Sick of it All, showcasing their ideas and opinions without beating the listener over the head with Christian rhetoric. With a solid collection of songs and a great delivery, Still Breathing delivers a far more impressive debut than most metal bands; any fan of intense alternative metal should really give this album a chance.