Freya

Item: As The Last Light Drains
Author: Chaz Murphy

As The Last Light Drains

(2003)

Reviewed by Chaz Murphy

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Label Victory RecordsDecapolisMay 2003

alternative metal hardcore metalcore

Guess who is back? I know you all have been awaiting his return. Karl Buechner is back on the mic and back on Victory Records. After being the front man for ten years of the always outspoken straight-edge vegan hardcore band Earth Crisis, Karl is back to attack the stage again. He isn't alone though, Bulldog and Eric from Earth Crisis have also joined his new project, Freya. I used to be a pretty big fan of Earth Crisis. They were one of the first hardcore bands I ever listened to. I loved their outspoken messages and gutsy style. Firestorm, Destroy the Machines, and Gomorrah's Season Ends were all great albums. They went down hill towards the end and I lost interest in them. I really wanted to see what Freya had to offer. Would it be a return to the old or "progression" that sent them down hill?

Basically, "As The Last Light Drains" was a huge disappointment when it comes to my hopes of the style of old. There are no signs of any messages that were the norm of Earth Crisis. Straight-edge and veganism aren't mentioned. The lyrics deal with personal loss, frustration, love and anger. Emotions over message. It's not really a bad thing but it wasn't what I would expect from three members of the best selling hardcore band of all time.

Musically, I was very disappointed. The production value was basically good. It's a standard Victory release. The sound was the equivalent of mixing the old sound of Earth Crisis with one of the MTV rock bands like Linkin Park, you would have the sound of Freya. Hard growling and screaming with singing. Karl doesn't sing, that is the job of Darian Lizotte, who also writes the music and plays lead guitar. At times I find myself bouncing to the music but most of the time I find myself wishing the song was over. This album has some high points but is just overwhelmed with pitfalls. Maybe if I had never heard Earth Crisis I would be a little more into it all but it was just a disappointment on what was formerly established.

C-