Eighteen Visions

Item: Obsession
Author: Ben Bishop

Obsession

(2004)

Reviewed by Ben Bishop

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Label Trustkill RecordsDecapolisSeptember 2004

alternative metal hard rock metalcore

The temptation to be avoided in listening to an album such as Eighteen Visions' latest offering, Obsession, is the sometimes subtle, sometimes brazen attitude which would have one believe that when it comes to rock and roll style takes precedence over substance. To be honest I'm the last person who would try to argue against the weight which looking good, dressing well, and copping the right attitude can carry in the volatile world of music. Particularly the cliquish fantasy realm of hardcore where concert attendees are often carbon copies of one another, each sporting dyed black hair, a tight t-shirt with a pink blood spattered animal skull next, and a fat tattoo of a rose peeking out of some article of clothing; it's the Urban Outfitters meets Taxi Driver look

It's no wonder that the fashion-obsessed hardcore scene of the last five years has spawned groups like Eighteen Visions. In truth they helped set a lot of the new standards themselves back when they first exploded onto the scene in their disco shirts, aviator sunglasses, and now oft-imitated fashion mohawks. They looked so good that there were many who believed them to actually be one of the best things to happen to hardcore in a long time. I'm sure there were a wise few who warned against Greeks bearing gifts, but of course the horse has long since been sprung open and fashion has run amok in the streets smothering musical integrity where she lies sleeping.

As much as I love going to a show and seeing whether Jesse Smith's wearing his jeans with the lace-up crotch or that black leather motorcycle jacket that's too tight to zip up, and as much as I believe that it's the hip frontmen who are in some ways best able to connect with their audiences a band that doesn't deliver the goods musically isn't worth my time or money. Unfortunately, in the big picture, Eighteen V does not deliver the goods this time around.

In an age when hardcore is going rock, Hart, Barney, Morris and Floyd certainly don't buck the trend. In Obsession they've provided a collection of songs that, while somewhat legitimate, lack the verve, the edge which would make them compelling. This is hard rock. Nothing more, nothing less. In fact if you come in viewing it as such, something with a grungy, quasi radio-friendly feel which isn't hardcore but is still dark and heavy you might have something to work with. James Hart doesn't have a great voice but at least he can hold a tune. There are some interesting sonic effects being thrown around. It's passable.

Here's my beef; Eighteen Visions is operating under the guise of a hardcore band. They're on Trustkill Records. They tour with hardcore bands. And in light of this record as the Don would say, "This displeases me." For this is not hardcore my friends. The only truly good breakdown comes two thirds of the way into "Tower of Snakes". The vast majority of the songs are a combination of muddy, overly-simple riffs played at a boring tempo supporting whiny vocals which are in turn delivering weak lyrics.

I'm all for progression. I don't listen to old Overcome records and weep. I'm glad that artists grow. Progression is what keeps music fresh and I certainly don't feel that any critic or school of thought on what's cool or what's not should determine the kind of music a band makes. I don't even (gasp) think singing in hardcore is always bad. I do think though that there are certain elements which encompass the hardcore spirit and sound; vocals which are predominantly screamed, extreme speed or dissonance or heaviness of some kind, a general intensity and seriousness. Within that loose framework bands as disparate as The Locust, Zao, Avenged Sevenfold, Hatebreed and Norma Jean can co-exist.

If Eighteen Visions wants to get away from that definition of hardcore which is admittedly my own, then that's their prerogative. In the words of guitarist Keith Barney, "Some people are gonna get it. Some aren't." Eighteen Visions have every right to make whatever music they want. It just seems to this writer that their creative energy could do with a little more direction. That their sound could use a little more definition. And that if they want to continue operating as a hardcore band something's gotta give.

A note on the DVD: Nothing special here. About a half hour of footage from the studio. Highlights include Hart getting ejected from a session by a frustrated producer. Has a certain honesty to it. The whole thing comes across as pretty honest and you don't get the feeling that it was edited all that heavily for better or for worse. You get some boring sequences and some funny ones. Fun stuff for serious fans.

2/4