Always And Forever - Early ‘06 Demos
Since the coming of This Is The American Dream In Action EP back in 2005, Always And Forever has gone over quite a few changes. Several line-up changes later, the band has a new vitality and new influences that have completed the essential power the band can give with its live show. The next goal: an equally powerful album to complement the band. With the help of Impact Studios in Hollis, the band seems to have gotten it right with four songs in the Early ‘06 Demo that will later be featured in their full-length album. I give you the new Always And Forever.
Cannibal Cowboy opens up the demo with an incredibly intricate and solid sound reminiscent of the Watch Out! album by Alexisonfire. That brings up the first huge difference in the new material: the incredible guitar lines that seem to make the new material that much more powerful than before. The vocals are still the high, throaty screams that seem like Haste The Day the more and more I listen to them. Cannibal Cowboy progresses with some very fast, heavy verses that progress into slower breakdown-ish sounding parts with “Yeeeehaw!” in true cowboy style. A small, catchy bass jam ensues until the riff from the introduction comes back to close off the track with a full-circle ending.
Next comes a re-recorded song: The Ambulance Dance. The new version is so much more clear and intense, and the pure heaviness of the breakdowns and verses really is captivated in the new recording. The long track (clocking in at 6:17) features a little bit of every element of Always And Forever, including melodic singing, breakdowns, fast verses, indie-ish sounding bridges, and brutally fast and intense guitar riffs that almost belong to a severely heavy grindcore band. It is during The Ambulance Dance that I notice the largest comparison with Converge, with an almost The Saddest Day sound at some parts. It’s quite an accomplishment to capture a solid sound like that, but it continues even more.
Dad, The Bodies Are Starting To Stink has one of the more comical names Always And Forever has come up with, but the song develops more of an identity for the band. Parts of the song seem like the guitar riffs belong in a Bleeding Through song, but somehow it is amplified with higher-pitched screams rather than the lower growls. And finally comes the famous track from Always And Forever….
Here’s To Sunday opens up with the familiar slashing and thundering of the instruments to the slow, gutteral screams that lead further and further towards the anticipated climax of the EP. The bassist Ethan’s high-pitched screams are so much better recorded on this version in the middle of the song, and it really gives the sound of the song live as well. Explosions of sounds hit over and over until the song clears off into a quiet abyss, trailing off and off…
“I’LL HUNT YOU DOWN!”
The waves crash back in a ferocious bite as the energy of the band is truly realized within the ending of the song. You can just imagine the people piling on the stage, grabbing the mic, and screaming the four words over and over.
Always And Forever has gone the extra bounds with this release, and the results are astounding. Four songs seem so solid and complete, overshadowing what the band has done in the past and opening the door to a bigger future full of many elements that were previously non-existant within the band. Do yourself a favor and check out Always And Forever’s four songs up on Myspace. The full demo is currently up, and it is certainly a demo that should not be overlooked.
TRACK LIST:
01. Cannibal Cowboy
02. The Ambulance Dance
03. Dad, The Bodies Are Starting To Stink
04. Here’s The Sunday
