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Dead Under Decor by Bleeding Kansas

Dead Under Decor

Release Date: 3/21/2006

Recording Date: 2/2006

Tracks: 14

Length: 00:36:11 Hrs

Label: Abacus

Type: CD

Genre/Styles:
Hardcore Punk, Heavy Metal, Alternative Metal, Punk/New Wave

What the Critics Say

If there's one fun thing about the metal/hardcore continuum that is clear over the moons, it's that bands no longer need to dress the part to sound utterly brutal. (Which is actually a good thing, since then some of these groups can probably get better service at diners and motels that way when they go on tour.) Thus the four guys in Bleeding Kansas, who in the photos on their full debut album following an initial EP have the relaxed looks and demeanor of the Converge fans they clearly are (perhaps unsurprisingly, that band's Kurt Ballou produced the album). If there's a secret weapon to the group it might be singer Ben March -- he avoids the overdone Cookie Monster approach for an equally aggressive but more warm-sounding shout. Calling it "emo" would be a disservice to everyone involved, but when you catch him at his best moments, such as delivering the title line to "Right by Your Side" or verses on "Hypocrites, Be Alive Again," there's a stronger connection for a listener than most. The rest of the bandmembers have their own surprises to pull out, with a gift for multipart songs compressed into a small space and, similar to March's singing, a very inviting feeling to their arrangements. Sometimes it's just a matter of a great hook -- "Can't Help You There" and "My Words, My Voice" have points where David Watrous's guitar bursts through in a simple but utterly compelling riff -- but sometimes it's more, with Ballou's help a further factor in adding some drowned, echoing beauty to the performances. Consider the way that the arrangement slowly, carefully breaks down to just a quiet bassline on the conclusion of "Your Scars Never Heal" before everything kicks back in fully on "Feel the Sting from the First Bite." Bleeding Kansas isn't yet rewriting rule books by any means, but the gift of a good band is to have a strong start to build on, and Dead Under Decor has that feeling -- it's up to the group to take it further with time. ~ Ned Raggett, Rovi

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