Every Time I Die – From Parts Unknown

Bang Your Reluctant Head

Since their formation over 15 years ago, Buffalo, New York’s Every Time I Die have time and time again solidified their position as one of metalcore’s most consistently crushing heavyweights. And they have come out swinging with their newest release, From Parts Unknown, a truly exhaustingly anguished onslaught of sound that any heavy music fan will be able to appreciate. Speaking from experience, this record will make even those most opposed to metalcore have to bang their heads, and with a good southern groove behind many of the tracks, Every Time I Die is taking advantage of all of the best parts of modern metal.

There are some fantastic guest vocals on the record, with Sean Ingram of Coalesce on the track “Pelican of The Desert,” and Brian Fallon of The Gaslight Anthem on “Old Light”. One of the brightest highlights on From Parts Unknown is “Decayin With The Boys,”which embraces the dirty south hardcore sound seen in bands like Whores. Listeners are also treated to a rather harrowing examples of Every Time I Die’s softer vocals with the song “Moor,” proving that the only thing more terrifying than their pained screams is when those screams stop.

Metalcore, in line with its name, should ideally be equal parts metal and hardcore, and while many bands in the genre have abandoned that definition, Every Time I Die is giving those bands a master class in getting back on track. If they keep on this sound and more bands take notes from this release, this record may indicate the start of a metalcore genre we can all agree on. Groovy riffs piled on brutal breakdowns with vocals that make you want to slam your head into a wall and pull all of your hair out (you know — in a good way) make From Parts Unknown a frontrunner for album of the year.