Far-Less - Everyone Is Out To Get Us (CD)

All Music Guide

FarLess are a band that attempt to straddle the lines of classification by being too melodic for intense metal and hardcore fans and too rough on the ears to satisfy the pop/rock audience. Well, for those who enjoy delving into the middle territory of those two extremes, FarLess have served up an afternoon treat on their fulllength Tooth and Nail debut, Everyone Is Out to Get Us. The disc finds the band offering up a diverse collection of songs that brim with complex guitar work, throbbing drumbeats, tight rhythms, and a seamless presentation where one song's ending often effortlessly ushers in the start of the next. The finishing touch is in the steady vocal styling of Brandon Welch, whose smooth voice stands firm against the most aggressive or growling of backdrops. "You Knew What This Was" is a frenetic introduction to the band's melodic hardcore/ metal mixture that suitably sets the mood for the rest of the album. "I Looked at the Trap, Ray" is the band boasting their hardcore roo...ts, while the highlight of the record definitely falls in the lap of "Roswell That Ends Well." This animated track is an electrifying blend of styles, tempos, and emotions that plays out as more than just one dizzying track in its four minutes of length. Not to be overlooked, however, "Too Pretty (To Be a Zombie)" showcases tight playing over silky, earnest lyrics, and the closing pianobased "Semper" proves that the band can throw progressive into their everevolving genre repertoire. An overall enjoyable listen, FarLess competently delivers on their first fulllength excursion, not always by creating something entirely new, but instead by expanding on existing melodic hardcore and rock elements. Glimpses into their experimental side, however, show them to be prime for development, and with any luck, be further explored as the band continues to mature. - Corey Apar, All Music Guide Read more Less