Evans Blue "Graveyard of Empires"

    It would not be out of line to say they sound similar to many bands coming out in the aughts, but it wouldn’t be fair to say they are not as good as some of their contemporaries. They remind me of chevelle because in my opinion, they have gradually progressed with each record.  Matisyn tries to sound like Keenan singing stop and say you love me. If you quote me on this they might sound like the aforementioned on track ten, and on their first single they remind me of Brand New. I would like to say that their first two records were solid and that there was really only song on each record that was memorable, but that would be a lie; If you are curious they would be dark that follows on The Melody and Energetic Nature of Volume, and painted when The Pursuit Begins When This Portrayal of Life Ends. I know the pseudo-title track was great too. I almost skipped the third record because I thought it would toil under the same dilemma, but it seemed to have more variety. What is odd though, is that Kustiak was the same producer as the previous albums, and I do not think the change in sound was just because Dan Chandler became the official vocalist for disc three. Same producer, but “This Time It’s Different.” The delivery is full of energy, yet sounds like it’s impersonating Burley; the whispered screams and that recurring riff work real well. The second song not only has a killer breakdown and solo, but seems to be written from the perspective of the feelings of fear and our own doubts which “Crawl Inside” your memory as one of its conceptual masterpieces.  I can say you’re so cold, and in your sniveling sarcastic smirk you may say “Thank You,” as you try to grasp my arm to carve their logo in my arm; that hurt like f****** h***!                               As I look “Beyond The Stars” I am taken to a higher state of being, traveling amongst those stars, but I’m not sure if it’s the sound or the loss of blood; as you breathe into me I carefully approach the earth on the defense. The title track and instrumental are perfectly suited for scoring a scene that has me waking up six feet under ground to a “Graveyard of Empires.” I am not exactly sure what time it is, or where this place is, but I know that I gotta get out. “I feel like choking then holding/You're breaking the skin/This isn't hope that I'm holding, your love you can give.” I may be “Alone Not Lonely,” busy to be honest, and this song’s danceable rhythm and, may I say funky, sound is kind off odd in sequence to the previous track. However, besides the poignancy of the first two verses (sans chorus) the sound is just what you need to revitalize interest and inspiration to break free. The next song may live “In The Shadow” of the previous track, but if you like Alexisonfire you may like this. I can empathize with the feelings revealed in the next song, and I believe everyone at some point, when searching for their purposes in life, believe they only “Live To Die.”        We can state that I would not really be in the mood to pursue someone who would carve a Breaking Benjamin logo in my arm, or can state that the sound has some eroded funk lingering underneath, but we don’t need to “Destroy the Obvious,” like which band the following song reminds me of. The final song not only wears a “Halo,” but was a single, and for good reason; it has all of the attributes for a successful single with a more energetic nature, and less vivacious volume. Favorites: Crawl Inside, Beyond the Stars, Graveyard of Empires, Alone Not Lonely, Destroy The Obvious, and Warrior.