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Band Name: Crossfade
Album Name: Crossfade
Rating: 4.5 / 5 User Rating: 4 / 5
Label: Sony Records
Buy Album: Amazon.com
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Tracklist
1. Starless
2. Cold
3. So Far Away
4. Colors
5. Death Trend Setta
6. Deep End
7. No Giving Up
8. Dead Skin
9. Disco
10. The Unknown
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With bands like Sevendust, Chevelle and Nickleback all vying for the alternative metal golden ring, Columbia, South Carolina's Crossfade enter the foray with their self titled debut record that has been driven by the resounding commercial radio success of the record's first single 'Cold'. But, 'Cold' is just one gem on an album that features a plethora of quality tracks from the forward thrusting 'Starless' to the down and dirty 'Death Trend Setta', a track that emphasizes the group's metal leaning tendencies. As of now, the second single, 'So Far Away' is taking off in the wake of 'Cold', here you will find a tuned injected with the tuneful voice of vocalist/guitarist Ed Sloan. At once containing both grinding, hard hitting rock guitar with a varied dynamic texture that moves with grace from an acoustic interlude to slamming stop action guitars, Crossfade show their sense of dramatic composition is well honed.
'The Deep End' is fast becoming a fan favorite live, and with good reason. It's lush vocal harmonies are instantly memorable and the song highlights a mellower side of the group in which they display some deep emotional intention. 'No Giving Up' portrays the band's hip-hop influence during the verse breakdowns, then returns into the room filling vocals of Sloan, accenting the singing of DJ Tony Byroads. Sloan's guitar playing is also of note on this song as he moves between edgy distorted strikes and sweeping melodies. Disco again revisits the group's harder edged nature. Bassist Mitch James lays a cool groove through Disco, another of the record's heavier tracks.
'Colors' is likely to become a third single and yet another hit for this quickly emerging act. Here, their writing seems refined and thematic. Enhanced by Byroad's input, this song is a marriage of everything that is great about a hard rock song. When the guitars kick in for the track's chorus, we find the group reverting to the power chord metal down-picking that makes their music so powerful. When you combine the vocals of James, Byroads and Sloan for the songs chorus the track takes on an even weightier presence. 'The Unknown' finds the group utilizing an acoustic atmosphere that is rich and soulful. One of the newer tracks on the record, it gives listeners a sample of the type of material that they can expect to hear on the group's forthcoming acoustic project.
Slamming onto the scene with this self-titled debut seems to be just the beginning for Crossfade, who appear destined to control the airwaves for some time to come. The band spent a lot of time in order to produce an effort that continues to achieve remarkable results as the band reaches more new listeners with each successive single release. Checking out great songs like 'Cold' and 'Colors' on the Sno Core should be a great winter treat leading into the next phase of Crossfade. Be sure that you do not miss this fine release.
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