Day 18: Throwdown - Intolerance

Artist:   Throwdown
Album:  Intolerance
Source:  https://soundcloud.com/eone-music/sets/throwdown-intolerance

Pre-listening Notes:  Sort of a confession, but I used to love Throwdown.  From the early days with Keith Barney singing when it was all about the mosh part.  Even up until the first album with current singer, Dave Peters singing where you could start to see the direction they were taking the band.  Then, after I heard Vendetta, I kinda gave up on them.  It felt like they were moving into a more Lamb of God type sound, and I liked Lamb of God well enough, but I didn't need to listen to bands that sounded like them.  So, not only did I not know they put out two more albums after that, I was kind of surprised to find out they were still a band in 2014.  I am giving it a shot, but I am going in with some serious hesitation. 

Initial Reaction:  It doesn't seem to be drastically different, maybe a little faster than what I remember Vendetta sounding like.  Dave's vocals are not something I hate, they fit the music, but this really isn't doing anything new for me.  Which yes, I realize above, I sort of indicated that the changes they were making sound wise is the reason I stopped listening to them.  But, while I think they moved towards a sound I might have liked, there are other bands who sound like this that do it better.

Random Thoughts:  The second song sounds like they were trying for a Merauder sound, they didn't succeed.  I have never shied away from metalcore completely in the past.  I am more than excited for the new Earth Crisis record coming out this year.  Woah, song 3 is basically a Hatebreed song with lyrics about being straight edge, which I guess still singing straight edge songs 17 years later is something.  Driven by Suffering, I mean Hardened by Consequence, the next song was kind of boring.  Maybe more "OUGH!" would have helped this album.  Suffer, Conquer makes me think of Suffer, Survive, which truthfully I like a whole lot better.  Oh, another straight edge song.  The last few songs sort of blended together as I was reading stuff on the internet, so there's that too. 

Final Reaction:  It's heavy, for sure.  The vocals don't suck.  It's short and to the point.  These are all things I like about punk/hardcore/metal music.  However, it just doesn't do it for me.  While I feel like they dialed back a little on the Pantera/LoG, they upped the Hatebreed worship on this, but again I fall into the whole belief that I already have 3 Hatebreed albums, yes THREE, to listen to.  Well, 4 if you count Under the Knife as an album.  I don't need any more, as evidenced by the 4 Hatebreed albums I don't listen to. 

Final Grade:  5.0/10