Search - In Pieces :: Learning to Accept Silence

RIP IN PIECES, we hardly knew thee!

David Zeidler | Connecticut | 07/14/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"first of all, I'm disgusted with all these trendy emo-teens likening this band to Thursday, The Used, Taking Back Sunday and Finch. those bands are for little kids, In Pieces is for true lovers of adult music. now, before i start sounding too pretentious, I'm only 22, so I was a teen not long ago, but I have sunk enough time into music in my life to feel confident that i know my stuff. so anyways, please stop comparing these guys to those mainstream pop-peddlers. In Pieces is far more than simple emo-core. sure, there are parts that are very emotional and the lyrics can tend towards wussiness (indeed the vocals are the weakest aspect of this band.) but that's where it ends. while upon an initial listen this album has the familiar formula of fast, energetic bits blended with gutteral breakdowns, there is so much more to the instrumentation than meets the eye. these guys just have a level of creativity and sincerity that you don't find in many new bands of their type. their breakdowns are just more rousing and skull-crushing, while their melodic bits are truly goosebump-inspiring at times. there's never a dull moment on this disc (with the exception of the instrumental "Communication Lost" which is the only weak track.), some sections repeat, but for the most part the songs travel seamlessly from riff to riff, and if a part does repeat, it is only once. bottom line - these guys take an oft-visited formula and improve on it with superb technical skill and songwriting ability. where bands like Thrice just seem to go from ripping off Iron Maiden to ripping off Strung Out to ripping of Helmet and then pawning it off as original because it blends styles, In Pieces just sounds like In Pieces. they have crafted their own sound. get past "Anchor" (one of the less exceptional tracks) and you'll see this album really take off. lots of people have pointed to "Heaven and a Gun" as a stand-out, and it is surely a fan favorite, but i point to "Walking This Fine Line" and the incredible closing track "Your Switch to the Sun" as examples of what these guys were really capable of.sadly, In Pieces (who hailed from Bridgeport i believe - long live the awesome CT metal scene!) is no more. at least they no longer exist as they do on this album. i was lucky enough to see their final show at the El-N-Gee (for like $6 at that!) in New London before they split. they could put on one hell of a show! it's a damn shame that a band this good only managed to release one album. the guitarist formed a melodic hardcore band called With Honor that released an absolutely stellar self-titled EP that everyone should own, but their recent full-length left a bit to be desired. anyways, these guys will never get the credit they are due unless some people start buying this album, and even then, they will likely become one of the hundreds of forgotten metal bands out there. too bad. this album is better than most of its kind."