Search - I Killed the Prom Queen :: When Goodbye Means Forever

Basically Your Standard Melodic Metalcore

LeftManOut | TheCityThatNeverSleeps, FL | 12/28/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I Killed The Prom Queen's "When Goodbye Means Forever" may not turn any heads for being the most diverse or original sounding metallic hardcore album out there, but that does not necessarily mean that it is a throwaway. In fact "When Goodbye Means Forever" is definitely a worthy listen for anyone who has come like the genre, or is into bands along the lines of Killswitch Engage and As I Lay Dying. While not quite as technical or tight as the two previous bands, I Killed The Prom Queen offers a solid and enjoyable listen with their debut cd, and most fans of hardcore or metal should look into one of the underground's up and coming bands.



Right from the short introduction track "When Goodbye Means Forever", the band establishes their enormous sound. The heavy breakdowns mixed with metallic riffs give way for what is to come. It is the perfect introduction for the true opener "To Kill Tomorrow", which is arguably the album's strongest track. Throwing caution to the wind, IKTPQ pummels you with their heavy breakdowns, sleek verses and choruses, and skilled musical abilities. However once you reach the third track, a bit of the bad begins to seep in. Now I love heavy music with melody, but in I Killed The Prom Queen's case, the melodic vocals really kill the band's momentum. "Upon A River's Sky" is chugging away nicely, all until you hear those high pitched emo vocals come in, and really hurt the music. This isn't always the case. Sometimes as on tracks like "Pointed To My Heart" and "Roses, Post Cards & Machine Gun Kisses" the melodies sound great; tracks like "Upon A River's Sky" and "Portraits, Dreams And Memories" are misses. There's no denying the band is at their absolute best when they don't use any clean vocals as seen on "To Kill Tomorrow" and "Death Certificate For A Beauty Queen". The addition of acoustic fills and light, atmospheric elements are nice touches to the band's sound, when it's done right. Musically the band won't surprise you a bit, especially if you're familiar with the metalcore genre, but they won't dissapoint you either. This makes a couple songs stand out, but most sound strikingly familiar, which sometimes creates a problem. Overall the record is solid, albeit nothing special or new. The only people who will truly appreciate what I Killed The Prom Queen offers are strict fans of metal and hardcore.



"When Goodbye Means Forever" may not be the most astounding or innovative release the metalcore genre has seen, but it's not at all the worst. For what it's worth, I Killed The Prom Queen will provide you with 40 minutes of enjoyment if you like and appreciate what the metal-hardcore hybrid has to offer. Don't go expecting anything revolutionary or genre defining, because in reality that's not what this is meant to do. If IKTPQ touches up a few places of their sound and concentrates more on putting elements together right, I could easily see their next record being excellent. Until then "When Goodbye Means Forever" will do the trick. Enjoy."

Crushing and beautiful

Mark Z | college station, tx | 02/01/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The australian metalcore outfit has covered the tracks of bands such as As I Lay Dying, Unearth, and other such acts while moving their own direction. Destructive breakdowns that might be slightly predictable fall between crafty guitar work and well thought out vocals. Not a fluke that this band has gotten as far as they have. Metalcore fans dont miss this album!"