Your Past, My Present
Trials And Tribulations
metalcore/post-hardcore
release date: January 18, 2013
1. The Summoning
2. A Conversation With Immortals
3. Trials And Tribulations
4. Kingdoms
5. Blood And Sand
6. Viles
Coming into this EP I have not heard much of Your Past, My Present's music, except for the few song leaks of this EP they were releasing on their Facebook, via Youtube, until the release. From those few songs I heard I immediately became a fan, and highly anticipated this EP.
The first thing I said to myself as soon as I started listening was... "Good Lord... them vocals". On the opening track, right after the opening crush of a breakdown, vocalist Matt Fortner immediately slapped me in the face with an amazing display of highs (the kind of highs that belong in some technical deathcore). The song from there continues to touch all elements... from the thumping riffs and breakdowns, to the cleans, even the electronic edit touches of today's metalcore and post-hardcore genre. The feeling of this song of an opening track was perfect, and had me stoked to hear what else this had in store for me. The second track, "A Conversation With Immortals" kept the momentum flowing smoothly. This track has a more progressive metalcore feel to it. They nail the progressive sound really well, and I prefer it much more than the post-hardcore elements of the EP. The cleans in this song were also really well used; really to the point where I favor them more than the opening track. After this song was over, I was almost sure that this was never going to slow down and there would not be a weak track on the EP. Then the next song started... not that I am not a fan of songs that tend to slow down the heavy and go for the more emotional feel, nor am I not a fan of some electronic touches in metal, and lastly it is not that I am not a fan of cleans or all clean songs either. All of these things are what make up the title track. For me, off pace songs are good ways to stretch your musicality. For most albums they are a good finishing touch, and with that I believe for such songs, song placement is crucial. As the third song and dead center of the EP, I believe it was not the best place. It abruptly slowed the momentum and cohesive flow, and probably would have better fit as second to last or the ending track. I also did not think it hit an emotional level that the song could have reached.
With "Kingdoms" the EP picks up where "A Conversation With Immortals" left off, but does not stick out. "Blood And Sand" fades in, and after about half way through I noticed a change in this song's and the previous in the cleans compared to the first half of the EP. They sounded different, they now sounded like a more mature metalcore band with these cleans, than the post-hardcore cleans that were displayed in the first few songs. This works way better with the sound they were portraying, but... "Viles" then switch them again, back to the sound of the opening track. Not at all a bad thing anyways. They perform both vocal styles well, and neither feel forced, over-used, or out of place. With that, the EP ends on a very good note leaving me with vicious screams and a heavy breakdown.
Your Past, My Present did indeed impress me with this EP. It fell short of perfect, which is expected of a debut EP, but that only means there is room to get better. And I look forward to hearing this bands "better" after this enjoyable little snippet of their talent. Other than a small amount of inconsistencies, it had superb production, spectacular vocals, and good all around play in the other instruments as well. This is definetly music that I want staying on my iPhone for a while.
3.5/5
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