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Rating: Well, in the end I did it. Yes, I managed to get my hands on "You Come Before You," the third album by the phenomenal Poison The Well. And I was simply astonished. Yes, because it was precisely the third album I was awaiting with some anxiety to confirm whether I indeed had one of the most brilliant and talented bands the metal scene has produced in recent years before me. Now I have that confirmation.
Another masterpiece by the Florida band, there's nothing to do about it. My fears about their transition to a major label (just like with Hatebreed) proved to be unfounded. There was no sort of "softening": "You Come Before You," now marks the actual maturity achieved by the band, both technically and artistically. Let's start by saying that technically, they have now become really competent (especially the drummer). Artistically, however, I wouldn't know if this is the band's best album or if "The Opposite Of December" should be preferred...
In any case, the new work presents itself as a total stylistic shift for the group. A darker mood, no more super-fast metalcore with few but beautiful glimpses of poetic and captivating melody as in the first work, nor a return to more melodic and emo-directed sounds as in the second work. This is absolutely the heaviest and simultaneously most melodic album ever recorded by the band. The heavy moments are now "truly heavy," just as the melodic moments are now "truly melodic." The melody is used much more than in the first album, but there is no contamination between sweetness and anger from the second. In the style of the first, we indeed find the violence-melodic break binomial, but played with much more care, no bursts of melody but melody that is there and truly makes itself heard. The guitars are now really powerful and destructive, as is the drumming, and especially played with a mastery that was previously lacking.
Jeffrey Moreira, then, has reached an incredible maturity: in the shouted parts, he's even better than the monster we knew before, but especially in the melodic parts, he proves to be something spectacular, wielding a fascinating and intense voice like never before. "Ghostchan" starts immediately with a drum intro and then explodes in all its violence, before the melodic and intense chorus tears your soul from your chest; "Loved Ones" is a delight of violent guitars before a wrapping break reestablishes harmony; "For A Bandage Iris" is another stunning assault on the ears that then loses itself in a chorus akin to the emo of "Tear from the red"; "Meeting again for the first time" wraps you in all its melody before Moreira wipes everything away with his voice, giving us one of the best songs on the album; "The Realist" is powerful, so melancholic, and rich with a delightful evocative atmosphere; "Apathy Is A Cold Body," in my opinion the masterpiece of the album, is a delicate deftonian fresco that will give you goosebumps for its emotional intensity and its massive, colossal melody; "Sounds Like.." is sweet, enveloping, and psychedelic; "Crystal Lake," entirely screamed, is a true bomb of anger and power, presenting itself as a pure hardcore song but played in the manner of the "new" Poison The Well... All are examples of what has been said so far.
In short, even though now they're under a major label, they have shown themselves to be even more powerful than before (albeit much more melodic and emo-oriented and with a cleaner production) and not only that: no chase for easy money by seeking more commercial paths, on the contrary, "You Come Before You" is an album that, in any case, deserves more listens to be fully understood and, above all, always keeps that flame, that impulse of sonic independence that has always characterized the group of Moreira and company. Much more accessible, despite everything, compared to the first two albums; while not reaching, as was almost expected, the compositional peak of the first album, "You Come Before You" is an intense, emotional, melancholic, visceral, poetic album. But perhaps it's not the case to make comparisons since this is a fundamentally "different" album from what Poison The Well had proposed so far.
Another spectacular album from this great group, it's just up to you to decide where to place this masterpiece among the other 2 of the band.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Ghostchant (03:33)
Sever your relation to those who are dependent on
breathing the obvious in it only turns your lips blue.
Turns your lips blue.
Unfastens
inspiration from your throat.
from your throat.
No one around so you
slash
pretty skin.
You told me they drove
you
to it.
How many times do I have to turn the switch
to warn you about jumping in the back of the cars.
jumping in the back of the cars.
jumping in the back
They cut
the tendon
so you'd be
too wasted to hold it all.
No one around so you
slash
pretty skin.
You told me they drove
you
to it.
How many times have you woken up in a strangers arms
covered in the gasoline as they hover above you
with the match they ignite.
with the match they ignite.
with the match.... they ignite
02 Loved Ones (Excerpts from Speeches of How Great You Were, and Will Never Be Again) (03:53)
03 For a Bandaged Iris (04:27)
I know we've never met and you'll probably never read this.
There are certain things your voice does to me,
it makes me feel the ground and sky again.
How sad it is when you spill your guts on the paper.
It only neglects you and never relieves.
In every corner and space I search for you,
I've only found your vocal cords.
Hate that I'm never certain of what needs what most.
All day your songs spin me into a romance repeatedly to the sky.
Scream over and over again repeatedly to the sky.
In every corner and space I search for you,
I've only found your vocal cords.
Hate that I'm never certain of what needs what most.
And nothing has affected me so...
In every corner and space I search for you,
I've only found your vocal cords.
Hate that I'm never certain of what needs what most.
06 The Realist (03:49)
Please just this once, do this for me.
I've seen you in clouded visions saying goodbye.
I remember when we were gonna sit each other down and explain ourselves.
Always busy blame myself.
Your color was blue myself is making me feel that way.
I apologize apologize you're old enough to take care of...
If we can't speak go back to your bed so you'll be here when I wake up.
And I'm worried with no reason why.
Harm is an acquaintance and says it's not very fond of you.
Just this once "stay" I say. "I'll see you soon" he says.
Until you come back I will stay awake.
Your color was blue myself is making me feel that way.
I apologize apologize, you're old enough to take care of...
09 Apathy Is a Cold Body (05:00)
This person staring through
This person staring through the reflective
You've turned and run off with all
to the other side with you
and I know, I know
you try so damn hard to be so happy.
So you say, what do I do now that you are me?
I'll fade with time, just like in the dream.
Inherit my shoes, they were too hard to fill anyways.
I want it to go well for you, start over and do it right this time for me.
Open the eyes, look at this wall and notice the one that borrows and steals.
I do this to myself.
Stick to the side roads,
they help interesting thoughts.
You see what you want to see.
11 Pleasant Bullet (03:35)
I've woken up everyday with my eyebrows pointing at my mouth.
Making all who care for me go through all my worst times with me.
And I give them no choice...all my worst times with me.
I need to be unhappy to smile, but I haven't quite got the hang of it yet.
I need to figure out why this room has blinds that never open.
It's so hard to be these days. I wasted all my time trying to remember
the word content was.
There isn't much to open eyes for.
I want to be excited just haven't been educated yet.
Wonder how long it will take before they leave me behind.
Questions in and questions out, they always ask me.
It's so hard to be these days. I wasted all my time trying to remember
the word content was.
I just want to be happy.
12 Crystal Lake (02:52)
Overheard your conversation. Tonight I'm not satisfied.
Sitting here I realize that I always think I'm right.
So it's over for all of you.
My scenery is lakes and trees
I just can't keep all concrete.
I've fallen for this metal and I love this handle
So it's over for all of you
Two round holes cut into this fabric.
And I will slide it over my head.
I'll chase you for all hours.
I never see you make the effort to chase me.
Now your final place is this lake.
Stare at me now on your way down.
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