Saosin, Bleeding Through previewed
Saosin, Bleeding Through
House Of Blues, Chicago
Saturday, December 2, 2006
Sunday, December 3, 2006
Many, many bands, no matter how hard they work, how good their records are, or how incredible their live show is, will never get two minutes of face time with a major label A&R person. Then there are bands like Southern California’s Saosin who are lucky enough to have major labels kneeling at their feet before they’ve even released a full-length.
In 2003 Saosin, then featuring three members no longer in the group, recorded the EP Translating The Name. Surprisingly, the EP built an enormous underground buzz, and before you know it Saosin were on the road with the likes of AFI, Avenged Sevenfold, and My Chemical Romance.
Their full-length — and major label — self-titled debut finally arrived in September to much hype. So what is so special about these guys? Nothing. Saosin the album sounds like the same stuff being released by 75-percent of the bands on Warped Tour and 50-percent of the bands on Victory Records’ roster. Then again, that’s likely exactly why guitarists Beau Burchell and Justin Shekoski, bassist Chris Sorenson, drummer Alex Rodriguez, and vocalist Cove Reber are special. If you’re cute and play emocore you’re a hot commodity, and Saosin play the music that fills House Of Blues across the country with screaming teenage girls. They buy the shirts, buy the records, then go home and leave exclamation point-laden rants — YOUR BAND ROX AND I LUV YOUR MUSIC!!! [LEAD SINGER NAME HERE] IS SOOOOO HOT! — on various message boards. These bands might be a dime a dozen, but they’re all fucking gorgeous. Exclamation point.
The hype behind tourmates Bleeding Through can kinda be understood. They are arguably the best band in metalcore, after all. But isn’t that like being called the best center fielder for the White Sox?
The one thing that does separate Bleeding Through from the pack is keyboardist Marta, who injects the group’s brick-to-the-head heaviness with an inkling of melody. Unfortunately, it’s also the thing Bleeding Through don’t do enough of on this year’s The Truth (Trustkill), which means the album ends up another example of what Gothenburg metal would sound like if it completely sacrificed tunefulness.
Bleeding Through and Saosin, along with Drive By, open for Senses Fail.
— Trevor Fisher
Click here for streaming samples of Saosin.
Click here for streaming samples of Bleeding Through.
Category: Stage Buzz, Weekly
