A few events have taken place for 40
Below Summer lately, even though the band isn’t really back together.
I’ve read they reunited to do a few shows to help promote their new
disc. Out on Halloween, and released by Crash Music, “The Last Dance”
is the last recording for 40 Below Summer. As with their previous tunes,
this album has a good beat to it for the most part. Attention grabbing abrasive
riffs mixed with melodic, somewhat tranquil, parts. Putting a label on music
with traits as 40 Below Summer doesn’t always work out. They themselves
claim they aren’t nu-metal, but in my opinion they share some elements
as in the screaming vocal style, that is also akin to hardcore or more so
emocore; mellow singing vocals and pissed off screaming vocals. But one
thing they really have in their music is a heavy-rock attitude much like
Sevendust, Deftones, Incubus, Juice, Will Haven, and Glassjaw. I found myself
favoring the heavier parts, but the stuff that was less intense I didn’t
get into much. I wouldn’t miss some of the mellow parts, in example,
parts of the tracks “Tell Me Now” and “Relapse”
just got to me after awhile. Not enough energy for my taste but something
you would hear on a modern rock radio station. Also this comes with a 90-minute
bonus DVD of the band’s last sold out show at Starland Ballroom in
New Jersey. Can’t complain about that. Fans of 40 Below Summer take
note…this is possibly their last release! This album is a must for
any fan so you will want to at least check this album out. However, as Joey
said “a new album sometime next year followed by a short tour”
is up in the air. So who knows, it’s not definite, but at least they
didn’t rule it out.
Rating: 74
Reviewed By: Jeffrey D. Adkins |
