For Today

             Since this is my last blog post I figured I would change things up a bit and instead of doing a completely non-known band I will instead talk about my favorite band, For Today.  With more passion than any group of bands put together this band from Iowa, lead by charismatic front-man Mattie Montgomery, this band is exploding into the scene.  Going from only local shows two years ago to just finishing a headlining world tour all over the US, Canada and Europe in support of their new album, Breaker, For Today is a new force to be reckoned with.  With an relenting message and a live show that gives you shudders, every aspect of this band is as strong as any veteran metal band.  With absolutely stunning and intricate guitar work and with a beast of a vocalist in Mattie, watch for their next tour date near you and have fun.

Oh the Blood

 

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With Joey Sturgis (The Devil Wears Prada, Emarosa, Before Their Eyes) recording their first EP just a month after their inception, you know that he must have seen something in this band that could make a difference in the metal scene.  Now, four years after that first EP, Oh the Blood is steadily gaining more and more popularity as they play as many shows as they can manage.  They play a thin line between screamo and hardcore and manage to do it with ease and fluidity. 

Commercial Analysis

         So I'm gonna be changing it up a bit for this post.  I will be analyzing a commercial for the bands For Today and War of Ages that aired on MTV2's Headbangers Ball.  This advertisement grabbed my attention because i like both of the bands in it, but i don't think it would be that attention grabbing if someone had no idea who the bands were.  There also isn't a lot of creativity in it as all they did was put two music videos together and put some text on top.  One thing this ad does do well though is shows what the product is versus just telling what it is, which is a far more effective technique.
         This ad appeals to the pathos reason.  It draws your emotions in with the music and makes you want to get the Cd's because you like the sound of the music and the way it makes you feel.  Since there is no speaking and there isn't really any "logic" involved then it has to be of the pathos reasoning.
         One of the only buzzwords this commercial uses would be when they say that the album is "in stores now".  Some of the colors this commercial uses are black, red and orange.  These colors give the feeling of the product bringing you passion, excitement, energy, power, style and underground. 
        This commercial a few different gimmicks and techniques.  Image advertising is one of the biggest techniques as the bands/commercial colors are trying to portray the image that goes along with the underground metal/hardcore scene.  This ad also uses the technique of omission as they never tell you how much the album's cost or any other information, just what they are and where you can buy them.

This Final Day

Metalcore bands that have catchy guitar lines don't come around that often, but This Final Day manages to do that with seemingly minimal effort.  With only one EP to their name this band is just starting but won't let that hold them back.  They released the EP on April 1st, 2011 and it is entitled Revelations EP.  You can find a teaser of this EP on their Band Camp page.

A Tragic Victory

Though recently disbanded, this band from Mobile, Alabama was very well known in their home scene with their melodic rock elements and their hardcore roots shining through in every area.  From nicely sung melodic choruses to brutally intense breakdowns, this band has seemed to master each of those elements and any in-between.  You can still get a free download for one of their songs on Indie Vision's website and buy merch and albums at their MerchNow store.

Update

If you have not noticed I just recently changed the blog description to include not only metal music but also the hardcore genre as well, including both genres mixed.  I did this so I can inform you of many more bands that I have been enjoying that aren't necessarily metal but would fit into the hardcore genre better.

Second Thief

Having put out seven records and EP's out in the last four years with only one supported by a record label you can guarantee that Second Thief is willing to work hard to get themselves out to the nation and they won't let anyone get in their way.  With determination and work ethic the defining  components of what breaks out a band in this unsaturated genre of metalcore, it takes the strong to make it anywhere, and Second Thief is definitely on their way.  With intricate guitar work and a vocalist with a range the size of their home state Florida, not only are they hard working but they have the talent to blow minds at every opportunity.