Palehorse Amongst The Flock

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Reviewed by: Nick   //   Published: 2/19/2007

Although I've always been a huge proponent of innovation and experimentation in music, there's something to be said for taking a proven musical recipe and delivering it with great intensity and emotion. Bridge Nine's Palehorse appear to thoroughly understand this idea, as their latest release, Amongst the Flock, excels in capturing the intensity and emotion of a live show on recording, something that many in the genre have been failing to achieve as of late.

Palehorse's musical formula relies heavily on the sound of mid-90's hardcore pioneers Integrity and Hatebreed, with a little bit of thrash thrown in to keep the record moving at a driving pace. Amongst the Flock is a true crossover record, displaying large amounts of double bass work and metal riffing, as well as a few moments of impressive lead guitar work over the course of the disc. Vinny Calandra's raspy vocals never fail to match the intensity of the instrumentation, as his politically charged lyrics paint a bleak portrait of the current state of society. I've always been one to be a little skeptical of the authenticity of hardcore lyrics, but when Calandra delivers lines like "We are a disease / We devour as we please / Neglected morality / We're all fucking doomed," it's difficult not to feel the absolute disdain in his voice. For those who like their hardcore pissed off, Palehorse is quite the goldmine.

Jim Siegel's production on Amongst the Flock is another highlight, as it is clean enough to do justice to the excellent musical execution, but stays away from the overproduced side of the spectrum. Anyone familiar with recent Bridge Nine releases from Outbreak and Have Heart will most likely recognize and appreciate this production style from Siegel.

Bottom Line: Amongst the Flock is a great example of an excellent metallic hardcore record that surpasses the rest of the pack in terms of its emotion and intensity. Fans of mid-90's crossover acts and those who simply enjoy their hardcore fast, angry, and heavy should take note of Palehorse.

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