Haste the Day Albums (3)
'When Everything Falls'
Release Date 6/28/2005
Tracks 12
Label Solid State
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Haste the Day has been described as a Christian metalcore band, but truth be told, what transpires on their second album, When Everything Falls, is closer to Christian screamo than Christian metalcore. While pure metalcore is known for being ferocious and unforgiving, When Everything Falls offers more breathing room. Haste the Day thrives on the extreme vocals/clean vocals contrast that screamo is famous for, and this 2005 release has its share of melodic moments as well as harsh, head-kicking brutality. The album even contains a cover of the Goo Goo Dolls' "Long Way Down" -- are these not the sort of things one would expect from a band that is more From Autumn to Ashes than Brick Bath, more Hopesfall than Hatebreed? That said, this 2005 release is a cut above many of the mid-'00s screamo discs. Haste the Day's songs are hookier, and lead singer Jimmy Ryan is not one of screamo's cookie-cutter vocalists; rather, his extreme vocal style is best described as an inspired mixture of metalcore/hardcore-style screaming, and a black metal rasp. But in terms of subject matter, When Everything Falls is a long way from black metal (which is full of references to Satanism and the Occult). This album has a Christian-oriented message, although the lyrics are introspective rather than preachy; Haste the Day are sharing their experiences and offering a Christian analysis, but they aren't beating listeners over the head with their beliefs. Screamo -- be it Christian or secular -- had more than its share of mediocrity in the early- to mid-'00s, but When Everything Falls is among the more memorable screamo efforts of 2005. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
On its debut for Solid State (Tooth & Nail's heavy music outpost), Indianapolis quintet Haste the Day garnishes its trad metal pacing and death and metalcore extremes with flourishes of emo and some melodic nods to Tool. The influence of acts like Living Sacrifice and Zao is strong here, in both the mixed-bag approach and the dedication to faith-based headbanging. "Blue 42" sets up the album nicely, with vocalist Jimmy Ryan screaming savagely over half-time staccato percussion before the song switches into a classic dual-guitar strut. However, Haste the Day proves even more restless in "Blue"'s final portion, shifting into a normal human singing voice. Fans of modern underground types like Poison the Well won't be thrown by the stylistic wanderlust -- it's become part of the scenery, especially in metalcore. Burning Bridges is a well-played album, especially in more straightforward metal workouts like "Closest Thing to Closure" and the absolutely incendiary "Last Goodbye." The band does occasionally struggle with getting its varying pieces to sync cohesively, but that might be due to rookie jitters (it's their first time in the studio, after all). Fortunately, Haste gets it more than right more often than not, particularly on "American Love," which crams chunks of thick distortion and shrill fretboard runs between thrilling instrumental breaks and a lush, harmony-drenched midsection that's closer to forlorn modern rock than the hot coals of heavy metal singeing most of Burning Bridges. A contemplative, nearly nine-minute outro featuring plucked electric guitars and plinking synthesizers only makes wondering what direction Haste the Day will go in next that much more intriguing. ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide
