Epitaph
With its fifth full-length New Junk Aesthetic the punk-hardcore-metal blender that is Buffalo’s Every Time I Die (ETID) proves to be even more chaotic diverse and imposing than previously thought possible. Pulling from the guttural prowess of Sick Of It All Refused’s calculated barbarism Rollins-era Black Flag’s menace and thrash’s pummelling riffs and temperament the album reeks of equal parts mathematics confusion short attention spans and outright rage. Essentially it’s like peeking into the frazzled mind of someone who needs a straightjacket.
Infused with some engaging vocal melodies the end product is crafty and rich. However by the album’s end one still feels as though the band falls just shy of greatness. No song truly stands out as unforgettable and the album devolves into being interesting without containing enough substance to provoke addiction. In other words ETID creates a compelling controlled musical blast far superior to many of its cohorts but after a dozen years even New Junk Aesthetic proves it’ll never be responsible for this generation’s Master of Puppets .
