Artist: Versus The Mirror
Album: Home
Label: Equal Vision Records
Tracks: 12
Length: 38:20
Reviewed by: Jeff K.

Equal Vision records has long been known as a label that produces excellent bands, from their earlier days of housing bands as Shelter and Crown of Thornz to more recent bands like Bane and Converge.  Knowing that, listening to the new Versus the Mirror became an easy task.

This album does not disappoint.  While it COULD be labeled 'screamo', it is more along the lines of what would probably be considered, in one form or another, hardcore.  This album, however, is much smarter than your typical screamo record, complete with vocals that do not grate on the listeners nerves, and music that is heavy yet melodic, and knows exactly when to pull back, and when to punch you in the face.  What's also amazing here is the fact that most of the band is around the age of 20.  The songs they represent here make them come across as a much more mature group of individuals than that.

One of the coolest things that set this album apart from other albums in the genre, is the noticeable lack of heavy distortion.  In fact, it is, as far as I can tell, completely non-existent on the cd.  Sure, there are 'dirty' parts, but it seems that this outcome is mostly due to the natural distortion caused by a good tube amp sound.  It fits perfectly.  Not only does it work, but it actually has the effect in some songs, coupled with the vocals, of drawing out quite a bit of intensity in the songs. 

Vocally, this is a very strong album.  Dave Siebold's lyrics are insightful, and his vocals are tight, with very little pitch problems, and are void of the whiny half-sung parts that seem to leak their way into most releases in the genre nowadays.

Overall, this is probably hands down one of the best, most original releases I've heard this year.  Definitely worth taking notice of, Versus the Mirror proved that their 2005 tour only ep release wasn't a fluke, but that they know how to write good songs, especially at such a relatively young age, both as a band and as individuals.