Metal-o-core

Artist: Skylines
Album: Identity
Blood and Ink Records
10 Tracks, 23 Minutes

I have writer's block. 

I don't think that with this release from Skylines will have a broad appeal to listeners outside of the metalcore market, but for fans of the style there is alot to love.

Skylines released a 3 song split EP with Stars are Falling as their Blood and Ink debut. They've shown alot of improvement since.  Identity opens with a nice little left/right stereo guitar segment under some tough screams.  The guitar work here is pretty nice with lots of little fills and varying chord structures and progressions.  The vocals vary between screaming and singing with about 80% of the cd favoring the former. 

Songs pick up and slow down and don't rely to heavily on breakdown after breakdown.  Hardcore bands love a great response from the crowd, but sometimes the writing with this style gets a little tired.  Track 8, Veir Heroicus Subliminus, remained satisfying and epic even without a single breakdown or scream. 

Downsides were that their sound got a little tired by the end and that the album only has 23 minutes of music.  This is hardcore, the songs are typically short, but 10 song in 23 minutes?