Album Review: To The Grave - 'Expect Resistance'

To The Graves, supporting Betraying The Martyrs later this month in Sydney, are a relatively new melodic deathcore outfit. "Melodic deathcore" sounds a little bit pretentious, doesn't it? What that basically means tough is there's a far stronger emphasis on the lead guitar melodies than just your typical amount of endless chuggs and metal riffs, which to be frank, is easily the saving grace of this album.

It's quite easy to see the influences that bands like Soilwork and Killswitch Engage have had on the guitar work. However, if you were to take away that element form the To The Grave's sound, then you'd be left with a very bland and dull deathcore sound.

In fact, even with the fantastic leads and solid isolated moments, you're still left with a rather indifferent debut anyway.

'A Stale Legacy' is a solid opener for the band's debut full-length. Despite the fact they just basically repeat the opening track for another ten times until the end, it is still a good set-up. However, with that being said, a somewhat boomy mix and a heavy reliance on deathcore clichés -  dull blast beats, generic breakdowns, uninspiring lyrics - really holds this release down.

'What Hope Tastes Like' is a short interlude track led solely by piano and it seems a little out of touch with the rest of the record. It does break up the flow ideally at the halfway point though. However, the straight-up hardcore vocals on 'The Mirrored' do feel untimely, especially since there is such a massive contrast between them and the constant semi-pitched screams and death growls that are the solo vocal basis of this release. By the time closer, 'Ambivalence', a good final slog throughout deathcore county, it's too little, too late unfortunately.  

Let's not throw out the baby with the bath water. To The Grave have potential, talent and an obvious work ethic. That needs affirming. The generic sensibilities just need to be removed first.

'Expect Resistance' is a decent debut album for this Sydney deathcore quintet. But with bands like Boris The Blade, Far West Battlefront, and Aversions Crown ruling the local scenes with some of the best metal around, it leaves To The Grave at a bit of a loss. While there is a good amount of talent here, that unfortunately can't completely make up for what is ultimately a very generic and uninspired release.

1. A Stale Legacy

2. I, The Catalyst

3. Plague

4. The Walls Whisper

5. While I Breathe

6. What Tastes Like Hope

7. The Mirrored

8. This Is The Way The World Ends

9. The Transition

10. Our Eyes Our Open

11. Ambivalence