AlbumsNovember 29, 201110,380 views

Cassius I Am Jim Jones


I Am Jim Jones
01. Semitone 02. Homeauxthug 03. Skingraft 04. Home 05. Flight of the Failure 06. Tale of the Leper 07. Deadbeat 08. Elate and Subtract 09. Funeral March 10. Belle Gunness 11. Harmony 12. Nickel and Dime
2007 Lifeforce Records
Our score 7

by Nick
2/20/2007

I Am Jim Jones is the debut full-length from Cassius, a metalcore quintet hailing from Richmond, Virginia. As they combine the technical nature of A Life Once Lost (read: Meshuggah) and the use of noise and spacey interludes with the mandatory breakdowns, Cassius has provided this disc as evidence that they are up to the challenge of taking on the already overflowing and stagnant metalcore scene. Sure, I Am Jim Jones is not going to re-hook fans who have sworn off the almighty breakdown years ago, but it will please fans of the genre who have grown weary of sorting through some of the complete garbage currently out there. After a slow and electronics filled intro song that draws similarities to Scarlet, the album hits hard with four straight tracks of solid, heavy metalcore.But while Cassius is extremely competent at the whole metalcore game, it is their use of experimental noise and melodic sections that really allows the band to stand out. "Tale of the Leper" provides a perfect example of this quality, as the track progresses from crushing metalcore into nearly a minute of random guitar feedback and noise before it culminates in a beautiful piano driven interlude. Then just before the track has time to end, Cassius brings back the heaviness, as if to remind the listener of the track's original intentions. Other facets of the disc also stand out, such as the brief Meshuggah-ish leads in "Deadbeat," and the mid-tempo instrumental track, "Harmony." However, there are other aspects that are less than attractive. I can't help but roll my eyes when vocalist Myke Terry yells "Fuck You!" in the empty space of a breakdown in "Skingraft," and slowing paces of "Belle Gunness" and "Nickel and Dime" just sound a little too close to On Broken Wings for my comfort. However, after a few listens it isn't difficult to tell that I Am Jim Jones, flaws and all, is simply superior to most of the predictable metalcore on the current market. Bottom Line: Cassius' debut has enough instrumentation, noise experimentation, and songwriting prowess to land it in any metalcore fan's collection. There are a few moments in which the disc suffers from tired and overdone metalcore trends, but not enough to change the fact that this is a pretty impressive start for a young band.

28 comments

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daikini_ 2/20/2007 3:06:50 PM

FURST POAST

micah_ 2/20/2007 3:37:04 PM

well deserved 7. it's about time.

theoneandonly_ 2/20/2007 4:49:30 PM

I hate to break the news to you buddy, but you are no Jim Jones. Jimmy is a class act, which you can't say for yourself. he has worked hard painful hours and for you to now show disrespect like this is uncalled for. Pancake man will not stand for this.

timxcore_ 2/20/2007 4:56:07 PM

good stuff.

yougottold_ 2/20/2007 9:13:06 PM

I am generic

xSeanHannityx_ 2/20/2007 10:24:25 PM

zzzzzz....zzzzzzz....no care ever

anonymous 2/21/2007 2:29:28 AM

possibly a stupid question but is the jim jones in the title the one who was the leader of a cult?

onemanbarfight_ 2/21/2007 2:39:57 AM

yes he was the cult leader, yes they used to be called cassius clay, yes they kick ass

Godfatherofsoul_ 2/21/2007 4:07:05 AM

"the almighty breakdown" "metalcore" died ages ago, this is rehashed filth

anonymous 2/21/2007 11:54:47 AM

why don't these bands just write an entire album of breakdowns! why have a song when you could breakdown a breakdown into another breakdown! pretty soon you'd just breakdown into dry heaves! URkKKRKKRKK! then we wouldn't have to hear this shit anymore.

DEFRAMOB_ 2/21/2007 7:40:30 PM

ballinnnnnnnnnnnng!!!!!

hcb_ 2/21/2007 11:53:06 PM

disagree

hamwarmer_ 2/22/2007 4:56:45 AM

good review. but no listen.

vdburns_ 2/22/2007 10:31:13 AM

ballinnnnnnnnnnnng!!!!! posted by DEFRAMOB () on 2/21/2007 7:40:30 PM Haha, I was waiting for a Dipset reference. Put the rapper Jim Jones on here and I might be interested, otherwise not.

cryptic's laughter_ 2/22/2007 12:12:42 PM

This band is f*cking TIGHT

Fur_Beach_ 2/22/2007 12:32:54 PM

7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7

BALLIN_ 2/22/2007 5:03:59 PM

BALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLIN

anonymous 2/23/2007 9:19:23 AM

dun dun dun f*ck YOU! DUN DUN DUN

markofjudas_ 2/23/2007 6:20:56 PM

why don't you tell us how you really feel haha

Disgruntled_Fan_ 2/24/2007 11:06:24 AM

i disagree with this review. i have ill will towards you and your family. i question your intelligence. and sexuality. i urge you to eat fecal matter. this band, which i am a fan of, rules!

siiiiiiickkkk_ 2/25/2007 9:09:19 AM

i heard the singer of cassius sings for BYD now. will smith is lovin life!!

anonymous 2/25/2007 10:03:04 AM

Are you kidding me, MBE over Cassius? Cassius blow them out of the water just on the fact their songwriting is better. They have a lot more diversity in the vocal area as well.

._ 2/25/2007 10:13:03 AM

if these cats wanted diversity in vocals, maybe they wouldn't sound like a dying gay all the time and try really singing.

anonymous 2/26/2007 9:44:21 AM

"Are you kidding me, MBE over Cassius? Cassius blow them out of the water just on the fact their songwriting is better. They have a lot more diversity in the vocal area as well" what a moron.

anonymous 2/26/2007 9:50:05 AM

saw cassius w/ mbe live once. even w/ their old vox and guitarist they still blew cassius and their horrible light show away. dudes are a buncha egotistical big headed gays. perfect lambgoat band.

ed_ 2/26/2007 9:50:55 AM

both bands suck. listen to mogwai

HB_Dad_ 3/2/2007 4:58:50 PM

Well written songs very well played. However, the one thing this guy doesn't mention about the CD is the sound quality is SHIT!! This is surprising coming out of Red Planet studios.

perpetual_ 3/11/2007 11:00:04 PM

i heard they lost the master and used shitty quality mp3s as the record