Oh, hey there. It's time for my band of the week.
This week, I've been listening to a charming post-hardcore act from down in Lou'siana called As Cities Burn. The album is titled Come Now, Sleep.
I use the term 'post-hardcore' loosely, as they employ some hard-core elements but really strut that 90's emo sound, made most popular by bands like Texas is the Reason, Further Seems Forever (Chris Carrabba era), and Pedro the Lion. ACB showcases a sort of tempered pacing that plods along under the weight of dissonant dual guitars. Lead vocalist Cody Bonnette will probably never get nominated for a Grammy or start a solo career, but he's got a raw emotion behind his lyrics that makes up for his lack of skill, something a lot of bands nowadays take for granted.
There's something awkward, yet dominating, as ACB takes their time song by song, crafting a collection that melts together into a sort of concept album. They've accomplished what most bands today can't understand; under the weight of label pressure, bands seem to write songs specifically as singles. If I'm going to buy an album, I want to pay for an experience. I've discovered hundreds of albums out there that I can listen to straight through and, generally, wouldn't have it any other way. Come Now, Sleep does exactly that.
Anyway, I have a good feeling about these guys. They signed to Solid State (a label that continues to impress me) in 2004, with a sound that was more similar to Underoath than anything else. As much as I enjoy Underoath and a wealth of other Christian hardcore bands, these guys were just another screamo group. They must have come to that realization quickly, as they broke up for a month in mid-2006. But the fans must have known there was something more, as the disappointed outcry led the band to reunite quickly. After screamer/lead vocalist TJ Bonnette left the band, the evolution appears almost instantaneous.
Start expecting big things out of these guys. Check out the video for "Empire" up top. Get mellow, suckas.
"And brother have you found the great peace that we all seek? / You say take a look around. / If there's a God, then he must be asleep."
- Cody Bonnette, "Contact"
