Across Five Aprils – Life Underwater

• 4th Mar 2008

A tirelessly abrasive, majestic debut for politically motivated Tennessee hardcore quintet, Across Five Aprils.

Reminiscent of both Hatebreed’s rabid, bludgeoning bass riffs, and the soaring emotive solos of Welsh rockers, Funeral For a Friend, “Life Underwater” is a diverse, instantaneously accessible listen. The eerily suspenseful opening to title track, “Life Underwater” constitutes precisely the kind of intro, which, nine times out of ten, inevitably precedes a stunningly well-crafted standout.

The meticulously timed, chugging bass is accompanied by lead singer, Brandon Mullins’ alternately clean and coarse vocal exertions. While, in other instances, Mullins’ vocal capacity appears limited to a series of shallow, abrupt screeches, “Life Underwater” features a satisfying array of pained howls and fluid screams. However, in “The Darkest of Roads” and other minor instances elsewhere, Mullins’ comparatively puny cries fail to equal the solid, low-slung intensity of the bass. Veering into increasingly extreme territory, “Dreamers Disease” showcases a slow-burning succession of thunderous, commanding riffs, which interplay exquisitely with the intricate lead guitar refrains.

Across Five Aprils’ emotive take on the hardcore genre makes for an ambitious, highly listenable debut. Conversely, at its finest moments, “Life Underwater” is as dense and damaging in sound quality as a relentless torrent of lethal poison.