That's right, the band that would become Brandtson, an emo project, gets the highly coveted 10 rating from me. Despite the fact that this album has the song 'Broken Tree' which is a foreshadowing of the Brandtson to come, this album receives an enthusiastic 10 from me. I've owned this album since it first came out in 1996, and I still listen to it quite frequently and am able to get into this music so deeply there is no way to rate this album any lower than...10.
With this the sophomore album by Six Feet Deep, we are treated to one of the first Christian bands seriously infusing metal into their hardcore. Back is Myk Porter's immense vocals that thrust you into each song so passionately without even being sappy (Ok so maybe 'Broken Tree' is sappy, but that's it.) The album starts off by seriously just kicking your butt, with this crazy intro piece and then 'Congruent' tears to pieces with an intensity level so high you reel.
You will not succeed
You will drown choked by your greed.
hatred swells inside my head
blind and only seeing red.
The songs here are as intense lyrically as they are musically, but as Six Feet Deep proved with Struggle they are as real and as close to your own heart as possible. Again the lyric writing presented here is far superior to most albums on the market today much less what was being produced in '96. Each one is (as NecRoSarX called them in his review of Struggle) a genuine blend of "emotional angst" that "still clings for dear life to the Savior." Man I love that description so much...mainly because it is so accurate! To scream along to these songs is to feel your soul moved!
Musically the guys still have a hardcore presence to give you but so much metal is infused with this album. They threw in an instrumental track called 'Narrow' that is nothing short of amazing. This is fast and furious music that gets you moving despite yourself.
I've said a lot here about the track 'Broken Tree' and while this is not exactly an emo song, it does show you that the band was seriously influenced and listening to a lot of emo bands at the time it was written. It also helps one understand why they created Brandtson as this was certainly the direction they were headed. I'm glad they created a new band instead of "re-inventing" Six Feet Deep and kept that name unfractured.
Bottom line here is NO ONE's CD collection is complete without The Road Less Traveled. I've seen new copies of this gem going for CHEAP at some online stores, so get it.
10/10
Other coverage for this album
The Lighthouse February 1997Reviewed by D_ListerThe second effort by Six Feet Deep is a distinct improvement for the band. Musically this album continues the hardcore sound that Struggle, their first album, has become known and loved for. There is a definite trend in the hardcore scene these days to move more toward a metal/hardcore blended sound, and Six Feet Deep has mastered this transition. A lot of new ground is tread by the band on this…7ball #9Reviewed by Chris WellSix Feet Deep is loud. Pouring thick, chunky songs into forged steel arrangements, the gargled shoutings of Myk Porter convey a sense of urgency and emergency through their entire soph release, The Road Less Traveled. What's amazing is they transcend the genre--yes, there is enough hardcore here for everyone--but the members of Six Feet Deep pull it off artfully. No matter how hard the…Similar sounding releases
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