Speed and Anger
Diane Mcgough | Lake Oswego, OR | 08/26/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Frontman Jay Reason was first known to the hardcore/screamo scene with his band, The Voice of Reason. Here he returns with long time friend and Connecticut colleague Jamey Jasta with The Distance. "The Rise, The Fall and Everything in Between" is a definite turn to the more commercial side of music and fits in with the current crop of melodic hardcore/emo/rock bands. The sound is similar to groups like Thursday and The Used. In fact The Used's frontman Bery McCracken makes an appearance on "At Least I'm Good at Something," which is one of the break-up inspired songs on the album. The better songs, like "Set Up" and "Before it's Gone" draw from a more punk influence of speed and anger like Bad Religion. The closer of the album is "Stage Between" which ends the album with an effective feeling."