Fordirelifesake / Deluge split

This Thorp Records release (Skipworth in Europe) features Michigan’s Fordirelifesake and Belgium’s Deluge. Both bands lay somewhere within the metal/hardcore spectrum, but neither fits into it perfectly, making for a varied and interesting listen. Fordirelifesake begins the split, and within the first 30 seconds or so of my initial listen, I was not very pleased. Fordirelifesake has that sort of Hopesfall-ish melodic appeal, albeit much more technical. It took more than a few listens to appreciate the intricate nature of the songs, which weave complex (but not overly technical) guitar riffs, usually harmonized, over equally complex drum work. And while the vocals might catch you off-guard at first, due to the inordinate amount of harmonized singing mixed with more scathing, again, Hopesfall-like screaming, the whole of Fordirelifesake’s songs overshadow that aspect of their music. Needless to say, it’s fairly catchy stuff, especially the first track, “We Burn In Our Own Comfort,” and the noodling guitars (certainly the highlight of these three songs) and melodic and dynamic breakdowns are very much worth sticking around for. My only initial complaint about Fordirelifesake was the harmonized singing, but again, after a few more listens, it’s easy to see how the music overall would lack without it. Holland’s Deluge takes over after Fordirelifesake, and the change is noticeable if not a little drastic. Deluge’s songs actually are a series of “parts” that revolve around the central theme of friendship, though the most conspicuous commonality between all three tracks are the piano pieces that accompany each song. “Heal Broken Words,” the first track on Deluge’s side, sounds more like their older material, with plenty of fast, hardcore punk-influenced drumming and quick guitar work. If you like spoken word/piano instrumental stuff ala Godspeed You Black Emperor and A Silver Mt. Zion, “I Had A Friend” is a pleasing enough track, though I recommend skipping to the last one, which, music-wise, is the direction Deluge seems to be taking more and more. And I hope they continue to due so, since Deluge is definitely capable of blending the more melodic aspects of metal with driving hardcore punk riffs and desperate-sounding vocals (think Lack, if you’ve ever heard of them). And by the way, I hate to complain about such a decent record, but this album has one of the most atrocious layouts I have ever seen. If you thought that City of Caterpillar’s self-titled CD was kind of ugly, it pales in comparison to this. We’re talking massive amounts of brown, gray, and sludge here. Not appealing at all. Luckily, the great recording quality and overall charm of this album make up for this one downside. Bottom Line: Aside from the whole layout situation, this split isn’t half bad. Both bands are different enough to make the CD worthwhile, and despite their contrariety, both Deluge and Fordirelifesake go quite well together, like proverbial peas and carrots, though Fordirelifesake takes the cake on this one. It’s also ineteresting to see Thorp put out something a little more progressive as opposed to what they have been more apt to release.