VERSUS THE MIRROR

Band: VERSUS THE MIRROR

Genres: Punk / Rock / Post-Rock / Post-Hardcore / Sing&Scream Hardcore without the "Sing"
Related artists: The Bled and probably others.
Country: Tuscon, Arizona USA
Years Active: 2003-2007
Song: "Smoke it to the Rope"
Album: "Home"
Year: 2006
Label(s): Equal Vision Records
This post's artist is from the April 2015 Mix. This is track #3.
You can download: the May Mix#5 right here or get the new June 2015 Mix#6 here.
For fans of: In Reverent Fear, Lyed, The Bled, Since By Man, Beloved, Alexisonfire, Saosin, Hopesfall, Gali Ma, Thursday, In Pieces, Endor and Fear Before The March Of Flames.

One could definitely make the argument that this style was becoming much more popular and therefore VERSUS THE MIRROR were lost in the shuffle. Were they original? Not so much. They took the typical sing/scream metallic/chug hardcore and removed the "sing". There are zero clean vocals here, and that's definitely part of the appeal for me. The guy has a great scream with a lot of range so he doesn't cheese that shit up, and a good fucking call I might add. I'd describe the vocals as violently strained and although I love'em, I'd say they may be mixed a wee bit high. So yeah, for what they do they do it really well but don't expect anything except The Bled and Lyed styled vocals with Saosin, Hopesfall and Beloved instrumentals.

The start/stop dynamics of "Smoke it to the Rope" are like sweet syrup poured into my ears. If there is a home run by the band this is most definitely it. The track has very similar instrumentals to the first Saosin EP with Anthony Green and a scream not too far off, but probably closer to early Alexisonfire and Fear Before The March Of Flames. "Birthed By Architecture" is a great song hampered by a very weak music video, linked below. "Fear Will Keep Them in Line" is riff and breakdown central with a heavier emphasis on a lighter sound of the occasional daisy or daffodil grazing your cheek, Hopesfall, Beloved and Saosin, I'm looking in your direction. Although notable songs include the sweet riffing during the chorus of "Barracuda Capital of the World", "Let's Get Alone" has a similar, infectious chorus riff amidst breakdowns and screaming. "Boy Gets What He Wants" and "(I Am) The Master of Gravity" are on the more aggressive side and sound a lot more like The Bled.

Basically, if you like the "For Fans Of" section you'll really dig this band. It's so 2005.

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DISCOGRAPHY

2005 - Versus The Mirror cdEP (if you have this please post it!)

2006 - Home cdLP (download here)

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(2005) VERSUS THE MIRROR - "Smoke it to the Rope" (from 'Versus The Mirror')

(2006) VERSUS THE MIRROR - "Barracuda Capital of the World" (from 'Home')

(2006) VERSUS THE MIRROR - ""Fear Will Keep Them in Line (from 'Home')

(2006) VERSUS THE MIRROR - "Birthed By Architecture" (from 'Home') official music video

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VERSUS THE MIRROR 'Home' and a few songs from the 'Versus The Mirror' demo mp3 download

(download here)

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