Search - This Day Forward :: In Response

An actual cd that deserves 5 stars

A Voice for HARDCORE | Chicago, IL | 07/19/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"i am asking for anyone to give themselves a chance and give this cd a listen. Who cares if this isn't hardcore. They are still making awsome stuff and this cd just proves that great music can still be made. I think this and the mars volta are the best cds released in 2003."

Expand with the band

A Voice for HARDCORE | 06/27/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's too bad that some people are so narrow
in their tastes that they expect creative
artists to keep repeating themselves forever.
Open your mind, unshackle your spirit, and expand
with this band. This CD will reward you but
you must be willing to listen to it again and
again and allow it to take hold of your soul.
Because it will."

Doesn't Get The Credit It Deserves

LeftManOut | TheCityThatNeverSleeps, FL | 11/25/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There are a hand full of bands who are responsible for perfecting and popularizing what has come to be known as "screamo" in today's music scene. Along with Glassjaw, Finch and A Static Lullaby, This Day Forward is one of those bands, yet often does not get the credit they rightfully deserve. Dropping their debut "Fragments Of An Untold Story Born By Shunning The Opportunity" in 1999, a year before Glassjaw's phenominal "Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Silence", and two years before the debuts of ASL and Finch, TDF has been around as long any of the other respected bands, and has released more material then them all. "In Response" is by far TDF's most accomplished and mature album, both musically and lyrically, and as for a band that has played such an important role in their genre, it ought to get the recognition it deserves.



"In Response" sees Mike Shaw give his finest vocal perfomance. As the band has progressed through newer albums, Mike has gradually gone from screaming the entire time, to now using a lot more melody, which actually works wonders for the band. His melodies on pieces like "One And One" and "The Breathe" are beautiful, but he can still turn out some powerful screams on those tracks, and "In The Past On The Ground". His lyrics are much more thought provoking as well, ranging from abandonment, to emotional struggle, and even political views of our world. Musically the band has grown a lot since "Frangments Of The Untold Story..." The guitars are a lot less riff oriented and metallic sounding, now using one another to produce brilliant melodies and backgrounds. Coupled with Mike's amazing voice, the band can turn tracks like "Voice" and "Nouveau" into beautiful, atmospheric pieces. The tiny solos and background fills are what make the guitars so important, because it adds so much depth to the music, and sets TDF apart from a lot of other bands on the same respected musical genre, who are less about atmosphere and more about shock value. The rhythm section is great, and the drumming is notably good, adding much needed punch and power behind the heavier tracks, and the melodic tone and rhythm behind the lighter ones. "In Response" is a seminal album for This Day Forward. If this would have been where the band would have taken themselves after this, who knows where they could have gone. They might have blown up along with the rest of the screamo bands that are in the height of their popularity right now. "In Response" offers more than its share of calming melodies, insightful lyrics, and crunching guitars.



Unfortunatley after this release This Day Forward disbanded. Most of the band is in other musical projects now though, including Circa Survive. However "In Response" remains the essential listen for the band, along with "The Transient Effects Of Light On Water". If this is what TDF was capable of doing, I only wish they were still together to make such beautiful music. This is definitely one of the most overlooked and underrated screamo cds, from a band who has been around just as long, if not longer, than some of the genre's premier bands. If you've never listened to This Day Forward, and you like bands like Glassjaw, Finch, and A Static Lullaby, then you should really consider checking these guys out because they have played a huge part in creating the genre that is so hot right now. Too bad they are no longer together. "In Response" remains the band's finest effort. Give it a listen."