This Day Forward

Item: In Response
Author: Chaz Murphy

In Response

(2003)

Reviewed by Chaz Murphy

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Label Equal Vision RecordsDecapolisSeptember 2003

hardcore metalcore post-hardcore

I would have to say that the city of Philadelphia is my favorite city and a second home to me. I've been all over the USA and I've never seen anything close to the energy I get from that city. I've lived there and I visit there regularly. The one thing I love about the city is the "no nonsense blue collar" work ethic many of the people have, if you've never seen it watch an Eagles or Flyers game. This mentality spills over into every aspect of the city including the music. I've been to countless shows all over the city and I've seen hundreds of bands but I never was able to see Philadelphia's own This Day Forward. I always heard that they were a metal core band and I'm not too into metal core so I never took an effort to see them. I like some of it but the band has to be really good for me to like them. I finally got to see This Day Forward at the First Unitarian Church in Philly when they played a special show with Thursday. I was actually really impressed with This Day Forward's show. The crowd was going nuts and This Day Forward was tight. I got a taste of some of their old stuff and some of their new stuff. The next day I got their new album "In Response" (equal vision) to review.

I've heard and read that This Day Forward's older recordings were more on the metal side but they have progressed as a band. "In Response" is anything but metal core and is a true progression that many bands can't make without totally breaking down their style and fan base. They pull their influences and mold them into their own sound. They took a little from their old metal core sound. They took a little from the melodic rock of bands like Thursday. They take a little from hardcore. They take all these sounds and make their own music without sounding like they're ripping off anyone.

There are a variety of vocal styles used on this record, from screaming to talking to yelling to singing. Social issues and personally centered lyrics keep the purpose of the band on the right line of what the hardcore/punk scene should be about. The guitar work is pretty good. There is a lot of moving around with the guitar work and it's not as tight as it could be but it is pretty good. The recording isn't the best but I think that it is a good fit for their musical style and sound. This album is for a lot of different people with different musical tastes. It is good for those kids who like Converge or American Nightmare (oops Giving Up The Ghost) and for kids who dig bands like Thursday and for some of the hardcore kids who are into bands like Turning Point. It's a good album with some good guys behind it all.