Bridging the gap between genres is a task often attempted and subsequently a task often failed. For most its the blending of rock and rap, but for this Florida based unit its melding together strains of emo, hardcore and metalcore. The end result is a blistering album that shatters the preconceptions of crossing over in the hardcore scene, helping to break down the self imposed walls and venture out into bold new territory. Truly, Poison The Well bolt into each direction they choose at full speed and its this extreme attitude and unwavering conviction that make this album such a deadly dose of heavy music mastery. Band vocalist Jeffery furiously belts out his lung collapsing barks with a fairly traditional hardcore / metalcore style, but although he pushes his callused vocal chords to their limits with the best of them, he also tends to draw out the notes on each word he utters, making his vocals a bit more emotive than most. The intriguing part though is that he contrasts his vicious side with captivating melody and spoken word parts, enabling the band to create a starkly dynamic environment that drips both anger and emotion and capitalizes upon a broader range of the senses. Guitar work is grating, with quick jagged riffs that primarily dwell in death metal and metalcore with the slight touch of emo and their precise nature and limitless use of buildups heavily energize each track. Bass playing however is solid and admittedly a bit more timid, though not by its own fault as band bassist Alan diligently works in tandem with the steady barrage of piercing distorted riffs to ensure a solid sonic foundation. Meanwhile, the percussive performance captured here is impressive, using a bevy of rumbling double kick and precise hits along with a variety odd time changes and intermittent stops to inject tension into the songs. As a whole though, perhaps the most unique quality this band possess is the slick syncopation of lunging guitar riffs and thundering double kick that arises on a few of their songs. Its most definitely this pairing that manages to help elevate the music to truly lethal proportions. It's by no surprise that this band have made a name for themselves already as their talent, technical adeptness and dizzying intensity are all above and beyond the average levels of the music the metal community has been force-fed as of late. With unique song structures, solid song writing and an approach that so seamlessly incorporates a wealth of different genres, these boys have created a sound fresh enough to make great headway outside of the often restrictive hardcore genre, if they ever feel the need. But whatever the case may be for their future and their heavily anticipated follow-up will have to be decided when the time comes, because at present the metal community is finally beginning to catch on to this impressive 5 piece and poisonous or not, the water contained in their well is far too satisfying to be ignored.

Along with progressive labels like Escape Artist, Indecision and Hydrahead, Trustkill Records is quickly becoming a staple in my diet of heavy and complex hardcore. And after numerous listens to ‘The Opposite of December’, it has become clear to me that I may have a viable contender for my favorite album of 2000. Certainly, Poison The Well tread familiar ground traversed by the likes of Harvest, Dragbody, Coalesce and Boy Sets Fire, but there is something uniquely engaging that sets Poison The Well apart from this tough guy, metal-tinged style. There is an overwhelming feeling of composition, as opposed to just songs; a meaningful sense of melody and intricacy that underlies each tune on ‘The Opposite Of December’. Perhaps it is almost an accessible quality that allows great bands like The Deftones to cross paths with the mainstream. Whatever the case, Poison The Well are tops on my tough guy recommendation list. Damn, it’s a good year for hardcore. While immediately meaty and full in their sound, Poison The Well are much more controlled than most of their musical counterparts. Chugging offbeats to subtle bridges give way to 4/4 pummelings that are beautifully executed. Many bands of this throaty growling nature choose to play things with a completely over-the-top style that encompasses both vocals and music to create a dischordant chaos. Not so for Poison The Well. Though for the most part the vocals are of the angry Coalesce-style; the music remains powerful yet free from pretension. It never blows the doors down on sheer volume; opting instead to engage the listener in a volley of some of the most intricately beautiful melodies I have ever heard grace a hardcore record. This is one of those discs with material of such depth, that I would hazard to guess that an acoustic version of the album would be similarly satisfying. In addition, there are many more spoken parts, are subtle vocal passages that compliment the musical shifts from chunky-Deftones style riffs to more melodically intricate plucking. The musicianship is nothing short of brilliant. Written amidst some rather stunning artwork, the lyrics are often times abstract recitations of personal angst and struggle. There is some deeply personal issues afoot lyrically, yet it may be a bit too sincere to come directly clean. "Slice Paper Wrists" is one fucking unbelievable song; perhaps one of my favorite tunes of 2000; a brilliant blend of Deftones rhythms and subtle chord progressions (with some absolutely fucking killer vocals that will induce a feeling of calm amidst the flurry. The off-kilter high-string that sets "Nerdy" in motion gives way to an unbelievable bridge, gorgeous choral arrangement and some seriously heavy chunkiness that brings to mind Coalesce. One of the great things about the nature in which Poison The Well play is that, despite all the brutal heaviness and aggressive style, there is something truly palatable to the arrangement. Usually, bands of this nature make my significant other rethink our living arrangements. I believe the idea is something to the effect that these albums would sounds much better if I fucked right off to the car and blared them a few miles away, in the solace of an apple orchard or some shit. But in the case of Poison The Well, I received a mild reaction, and an offer to continue my head-bobbing at the same decibel level it was prior to her getting home from work. The fact of the matter is, Poison The Well are simply that fucking awesome in their ability to evoke an engaging response despite their tough outer shell. It has become increasingly apparent that Poison The Well have indeed won over my better half with their penchant for passionately charged melodies that keep the noisiness in check. And that in its own right, is one fucking brilliant accomplishment. (Now if I just didn’t have to drive 30 fucking miles out of the city limits to listen to Dillinger Escape Plan, the world would revolve in perfection). By no means are Poison The Well the end-all to the ever-emerging tough-guy hardcore style. But they have managed to encapsulate every positive aspect of the genre in a most refreshing way. My only complaint is slight indeed; the brilliant layout has a script font for the song titles that is a fucking terror on the eyes of an old bastard such as myself. I must have misread every damn song title on the disc, foresaking English for some form of Latin or some otherworldly language. My sorry retinas thank the band for at least having the decency to provide the lyrics in a much more legible font. But hey, font scripts have fuck-all to do with how utterly amazing the album is. If you are a fan of the gruff and tumble world of heavy hardcore, this album is a frickin’ mindblowing experience. For the most part, the rhythmic patterns focus on the mid to slow-tempo range, so don’t expect to beat the shit out of your house plants in a pit-induced fury. What you may want to do is simply relax, settle in for the duration of this incredible slab of plastic, and upon its completion, get your sorry ass off the coach and simply chuck a fucking brick through your window. This is subtle angst and controlled fury, that builds and builds until the emotions can no longer be controlled. Consider it therapeutic hardcore for the masses. There…now breath in…exhale, and aim for dead center of the glass. Feel better now? I know I do. Simply outstanding.

Poison The Well is a five piece out of southern Florida. The group has been in existence for around three years. Their debut effort on Trustkill Records is a brilliant concentration of energy. This is one of those records that it only takes one listening to conclude if you like the album or not. If you like organized chaos created through heavy distortion, mind-blowing riffs, and powerful lyrics assimilated in an extremely progressive manner; this is an album for you. "The Opposite of December" epitomizes the new standard for hardcore. A majority of hardcore efforts being released today focus primarily on conveying emotion. Poison The Well not only incorporates emotion, but also brings a level of creativity into the equation that has been absent in the majority of hardcore. Even the cover art for the album is very avant-garde. The band got artist Jacob Bannon to do the layout. The artwork conveys the sense of seasons and the changing between. Even someone that could not comprehend the level that this band plays on could easily appreciate the art contained within the album. I recently had the opportunity to interview Alan Landsman, the bass player of Poison The Well. Here are some of the highlights from our conversation. Poison The Well is not a straight-edge band despite the fact that their sound is reminiscent of the straight-edge hardcore scene. The worst part about touring is the ride back home after the show is done. Alan’s favorite track off "The Opposite of December" is the track entitled "Nerdy," which Alan described with a chuckle as their one love song. When asked what band he feels is highly underrated, his reply, was label mate, Eighteen Visions (their new release "Until The Ink Runs Out" is out now). The entire band is very excited from the tremendous response they have received from this album.

WOOOO is all i have to say for this amazingly tight band reigning from Miami, Florida. This CD is probably one of the closest recrodings to perfect i have heard in a long time. Devistating music that will keep you moving as you listen. The raw passion can be fealt through this recording. Amazing song writers is all i have to say, beautiful transitions from metal/hardcore to clean melodies. Beautiful in all ways. This album is a true winner. This record reminds me a lot of some early Shai Hulud and Strongarm records.

Trustkill keeps their tradition of only putting out incredible music, with this effort from Florida's Poison The Well.  Poison The Well delivers one of the best releases of the past year.  They create a sound similar to Morning Again but with more melody. There's also this crispness to their music that will hook you with your first listen. Beautifully done, dynamically crushing emotions and anger induced passion have never sounded this sweet when transferred to music. They display this raw emotion in a melodic way that has never been executed so well.  This album was dedicated to a fallen family member of the singer.  Fans of all genres of hardcore/metal will adore this new album.

Poison the Well has undergone an almost complete line-up change for their sophomore effort, "The opposite of december".. and rightfully so. These guys have managed to make some of the most jaw dropping music the hardcore scene has produced to date.. making this album an emotional breakdown of heartbreak and raw anger. Never before have I heard a hardcore album filled with such amazing energy and emotion as this one. To put it another way.. never before have I heard a hardcore album with such sheer talent as Poison the well's second release. Music had never seemed so pure and flawless until I heard this great band.. everything on this album seems to be exactly in its place. In other words.. perfect. The extremely riveting guitar and bass lines seem to balance out perfectly for singer, Jeff Moreira's, amazing vocals.. which all pans out for some of the most incredible drumming I have ever heard. Drummer, Chris Hornbrook, posesses a drumming talent like none other, and combines that with unbelievably, skull-piercing, double bass skills that leaves listeners begging for more. Overall, this is a cd that should not be passed up by any fan of hardcore, or great music for that matter. With this release, Poison the well have placed themselves among my favorites and developed one of the best albums I have ever listened to. So don't let this unique band, "fall on deaf ears", and tell everyone you know, about this disc.. you already owe it to them.

How much ass can one band kick? Here is your answer. Poison The Well is an intense, in-your-face band that plays hardcore/metal like it should be played. What I really like about this disc is the breakdowns and the detail they put into every tune. Very seldom do young hardcore bands take the time to craft whole songs, rather they just thrash about like fish out of water. These guys play every song like it's their only song and they should be applauded for that. By applauded I mean, of course, buy the freaking disc!

WOW! This album will give you the chill's. This band was introduced to me about 6 months ago and I can't take it out of my cd player it's so good. This in one of my favorite hardcore albums. With there 2 singers one being a screamer and the other a singer. Both have awesome and easy to understand voices. Their brake-downs and solos are amazing. This band has talent. I don't think that there is one song of theirs that I don't like.

Smart and impassioned hardcore, I was really drawn in by the immediacy of the lyrics. They go beyond the high-horse preaching, beyond finger-pointing generalizations and wage the battle on the frontline of self in a forceful and expressive way. Musically, they have an awesome range executed with precise power. Highly recommended.

Where has this CD been all my life. I'm a little embarassed to say that I did not pick this up until just recently. I have not stopped listening to this CD since I bought it. This CD may be the closest thing to hardcore perfection that there is out there. If you like your hardcore heavy this CD is a must have. They go from insanely fast almost old-school Metallica guitar riffs to slow-and-heavy riffs that could get anyone dancing. I love this guy's voice one minute he's screaming his lungs out then the next he breaks down into either these short spoken word parts or singing. And unlike a lot of screamers the singing on this CD doesn't suck. It all fits together perfectly. I'm a sucker for good lyrics and in the department this CD doesn't let me down. Another good thing about this CD is that I could see almost all of these songs being played live, and making for a totally intense show. Get it now, listen to it, love it. I know this CD will not be leaving my CD player for a long time. I never thought that another band could fill the gap that Bloodlet left in my musical collection, but these guys could very well be the band to finally overtake them in my mind. As far as art goes the cover is amazing. Some sort of evil skeleton snowman thing, I don't know. It just looks amazing. Inside is flowers and stuff so I don't know about that, but at least the cover and the traycard are good. What can I say, pretty much nothing sucks about this CD.

Florida's Poison the Well are back! This time around though they're on New Jersey's much-loved Trustkill Records. In a world dominated by copy-cats, re-hash and sound-alikes Poison the Well prove originality is still possible. Their chunky, metallic, hook-filled melodic hardcore stands distinct. Poison the Well's first release, Good Life Recordings' "distance only makes the heart grow fonder" from 1998, had Europe's hardcore kids clued into Poison the Well before most of us on this side of the water even had a clue. Trustkill clued in with Poison the Well and Walls Of Jericho (another band those damn Europeans appear to have found out about first). Now it's your turn.

Let me make this fucking clear. This is one of my favorite hardcore albums ever. The combination of musicianship, angst, production and lyrical content make Poison The Well what they are. The ring leaders for chaos, with the knowledge as to why a heart beats. Get ready. "12/23/93" is almost noisecore in the way they tear your head off. But that thought is laid to rest as soon as Jeffrey breaks out some melody. Two-thirds of the way through the track they break out a crazy groove, all the while Jeffrey screams "Memories fade as you did once before. Stole hope from right under my eyes. Accomplice of my death." " A Wish For Wings That Work" define the band. The guitars are tremendous here, at times they have an almost Smashing Pumpkins feel to them, but at other times they simply put….shred. Very dynamic, and the emotion is second to none. Jeffrey sounds like he is watching his own death…and in a way he is. It is a track about suicide. Although this is not a new subject, never have the thoughts of the act been put into words like this: " Forever is such an unpleasant word, but it begins to eat you, from the inside out. Blood stains the wall, beg for sleep as the noose is tied around your neck." Any time a musician can relay a feeling or an emotion, they have done their job. Jeffrey, Derek, Jose, Alan, and Chris make no mistakes at their job. On "Slice Paper Wrists" the guitars yet again are very melodic at first, but the anger rears it's ugly head. Jeffrey screams till his brain pours out his ears. The middle of the track lets Jeffrey show his singing abilities, and he does not fail. Can you say emotional. Awesome man…awesome stuff. I could go on ranting about every track. Like I said earlier this is tremendous shit. I wish this band would poison the radio well, cause these guys deserve whatever they can get, and radio? Lets face it radio needs something new. Don't buy this CD cause I told you to, buy it because you want to hear music the way it was intended, to be a release of emotion, or to relay a lesson. I'll close with my favorite lines " Please stay a while longer, I don't want to be alone. To see in your eyes is to stare in clear skies. Clouds don't trail me anymore."

Up until this issue I don't think I had ever given a good review to the records Trustkill sent us, and hey whadya know, two stunning records in one issue. Oh yeah, I almost forgot to write the second. Here it is: Poison the Well, from Florida, are a great hardcore band. Tight, creative, and pummeling. Musically they sound like a more straight-forward version of Shai Hulud, but the vocals are a bit more screamy than their Florida counterparts. The thing I like the best about this disc is their ability to throw in melody and even, gasp, harmony, without slowing the pace or getting sappy. I really recommend this disc for everyone bored of the Victory stuff (not to mention the last few Trustkill releases.) Plus, Jake Bannon's artwork is phenomenal.

Another brilliant release from Trustkill Records! When I put on this CD 29 minutes of hardcore beauty come out of my speakers. With their crushing sound, which is a combination of energetic and pumping mid-tempo metallic hardcore and beautiful melodic emo/ indie parts, Poison The Well blows away every band which tried to create such a sound before. This band also deserves to get extra credits for their lyrics which are all beautiful poems on itselves. These kind of lyrics are hard to find these days. So that’s another point that makes this band even more special. Influences for the earlier mentioned mid-tempo metallic hardcore parts could be bands like Harvest and Morning Again, while bands like Small Brown Bike and Boy Bets Fire could be held responsible for the more emo and rockin’ parts. But Poison The well needs no comparisons, they are one kind of a band!

This is definitely a cool album. Poison The Well melds crazy tempo changes with brutal guitar riffs and unpredictable vocals. The band is capable of belting out a melodic passage right before swinging into a savage metalcore rant. If you like albums that don't follow the same old formula, and explore the boundaries of aggressive music, than you've found your album. There's really nothing "standard" about this release. Moreover, the song "Slice Paper Wrists" is amazing.

This CD opens up with a double bass sequence and hardcore intro. Hearing this good wholesome yelling caught me immediately; I knew this one was a keeper from the start. After hearing three of four bands from Trustkill that grabbed my attention, Poison the Well is no exception. It's kinda odd to say that this is emotional, but it really is. I really like it when hardcore singers talk to, or at least sing along with the energy-filled screams. Going from one vocal range to another, I love the way hardcore has this certain level of energy, and I'd love to give you this to wake up to in the morning. I do it all the time.

Holy Shit! This is by far the best CD I've heard in a really long time! PTW play some heavy as hell hardcore, well into the metal side of it all, mixing in at times some very melodic parts, all that together and you've got a fucking awesome CD. The double bass will beat you senseless while you can't help but get charged up by some of the most brutal vocals I've ever heard. This offering from this band from Florida is definitetly a must for everyone! Go by this CD, or you're missing out on one of the best records of the year.

Wow, this CD is great. They have ex-members of Morning Again and Shai Hulud. Poison The Well definitetly have that trademark Florida sound, but they take it to an insane intensity level. There is never a dull moment on this album. All out sheer brutality mixed with downright passion and melody. Start and stop rhythms coupled with heavy as hell breakdowns. The layout is designed by jacob Bannon of Converge and is absolutely beautiful. Trustkill has really outdoen themselves with this release. Buy this album right now or pose, ha ha. This band puts on an even crazier live show, so check them out this summer with Twelve Tribes as they tour the entire US.

Holy shit!!! This has to be my favorite band at the moment. This is their first full length after the amazing EP intitled "Distance Only Makes the Heart Grow Fonder". This CD mixes metal, hardcore, and emo like it should be mixed. There won't be a single song on this CD that you would even consider skipping over. The Well contunues the great FL trend of producing amazing bands. The best song on this CD would have to be "Nerdy" or "Slice Paper Wrists". Most of the songs go from fast straight up hardcore to talking/singing parts which run straight through the breakdowns which is interesting and creative. The breakdowns are simliar to Shai Hulud or Twelve Tribes. This band is both heavy and beautiful at the same time, which is a style that many bands try to capture and so few succeed, but The Well does it beautifully. Their lyrics are also a strong point and complete this record. This is a must for anyone who simply likes heavy emotional music. For more info go to the |trustkill records| website.

I had high expectations of this cd after reading one positive review followed by another... Their first ep "Distance Only Makes The Heart Grow Fonder" (on Goodlife) was a nice introduction but with this nine song cd Poison The Well shows what they're truly capable of... Which is making metallic hardcore with a real emotional touch. While all the songs are actually quite hard they've all got a emotional feel to them. I've read many reviews who compared Poison The Well to Morning Again. To some level that's true but I think that they definitely got a face of their own. Songs like "Slice Paper Wrists", "To Mandate Heaven" and "My Mirror No Longer Reflects" are simply both hard and beautifull. The layout is made by Converge singer Jacob Bannon and is really a piece of work! So all in all this cd leaves their first ep miles behind.

I'd give you the full title of this record, but it's too long to recite. And while it may be easy to hear the initial first poundings of double bass and chugging guitars this band may very well be the saving grace that moshcore needs to stay alive. Because as heavy as it is on the senses with it's instant dancefloor gratification it explodes with drama and melody, not only supplied witin a healthy-lunged vocalist who goes between singing and screaming in the same breath, but in climatic and depressingly beautiful sections of music as well that blend with the chaos ensuing in the rhythm. This young band really has it right- from one of the most eye-appealing layouts I've ever seen, and how it somehow matches the intensity and beauty of the music. "Slice Paper Wrists" and "Not Within Arm's Length" come down so damn heavy that not only do you want to break out in some retarded arm-swinging bedroom mosh, but at the same time fall to your knees and break out a Kleenex at the emotion behind the music.

To put it briefly, a masterpiece. Each and every song builds to a paramount and eventually releases into a cathartic cleansing of sorts. Upon every listen, PTW sounds more and more like a machine, so damn tight and technical. However, just as quickly as you think the music on this could get no more machine-like in its perfection, the singing and the melody force you to understand that this is nothing more than human emotion at its best. If you can imagine "Beyond Hypothermia" Cave In, then you have a good idea where to start. However, this is beyond mere comparisons and certainly stands head and shoulders above the slew of bands doing the scream-sing-scream dynamic these days. Lyrically interesting and visually stunning with artwork by Jacob Bannon of Converge, coupled with mosh, melody and metal, easily make this a contender for record of the year. I know it's saying a lot, but this is the best record Trustkill has ever put out, hands down.

Poison The Well is a Florida quartet that pounds you into submission with their nine track CD. A subtle blend of metal and hardcore proves to be a deadly combination for PTW, as they stomp your face in with a flurry of screams, churning guitars and down low metal goodness ("Artists Rendering Of Me", "Slice Paper Wrists"). Imagine VOD jamming with All Out War ("My Mirror No Longer Neglects") and you may get an idea of what this beautifully brutal band sounds like. Definitely worth a spin.

Trustkill continue on their rampage of signing the heaviest bands they can find and this is a case in point. PTW are a 5 piece from the depths of Florida and, like their pals from the phallic state, Morning Again and Bloodlet, they play raging metal-hardcore. Two words for ya on this one... double bass. The vocals are usually screamed but they also do the spoken/sung thing and it works well for them. Lots of dance parts on this, which I usually don't like much but this is the exception to the rule. It's groovy without being tough-guy, it's sing-songy without being pretentious, and it's metal without the mullets. Awesome.

Florida's hardcore/metal ensemble PoisonThe Well are quite a neat band to listen to. While painted with the traditional styles of the genre, PTW branch out and add a storytelling-like feel to their music. While aggressive vocals and dominating riffs are attacking us from all sides, PTW take a step back every once in a while to open up and explore the softer sides of music with melodic choruses and spoken segues. All in all a cool release. I'm looking forward to their future endeavors.

The new Poison the Well album, with artwork that reminds me of Paradise Losts "Draconian Times" sounds different than "Distance Only Makes the Heart Grow Fonder". This killer metalcore band from Florida is now much more into these chugga-chugga riffs. The band is diverse, but it sounds more structured. Still they do sound like a mix between Harvest, Morning Again and Strongarm. All in all it’s quite a progression they made, and just like Walls of Jericho (which also recently released an album on Trustkill) it sounds more organic. That is what makes hardcore music stand out from all the well known mainstream bands, the soul in the music. Poison the Well has now got the soul, which I couldn’t quite see in their previous release.

9 song metal/hardcore masterpiece. Poison the Well combines all the raw angst of hardcore with brutal metal guitar riffs and then still have room to get emotional. The music is recorded far beyond amazing and the artwork matches the Trustkill criteria of being nothing short of beautiful. The emotional elements of this metal/hardcore 5-piece is immensely moving with lyrics such as "Could I end my life with a knife sharpened by problems, could this sky open up and accept this tortured soul". This is the difference between this new breed of hardcore and metal, metal doesn't contain the slightest hint of modesty and humility of realizing that when you release music, you are putting your heart out for others to criticize.

The Opposite Of December is a metalcore fan’s wet dream. The album is both artful and angry, combining bulleted drumbeats and chugga-chugga breakdwons with jarring screams that sound like they’re erupting from a psych ward’s padded cell. But PTW don’t rely on brute force alone. Much like the band Cave-In, Poison The Well twists emo-styled melodies around vocalist Jeffrey Moreira’s spoken-word interludes.

It seems that hardcore has the most room to grow of all the extreme music genres. What is for sure is that hardcore still has a ways to go before it reaches its greatest extremes. Heavy metal had these growing pains in the early 90s; it eventually led to black metal, doom, death, retro-thrash, goth, and all the others of its spiritual children. Hardcore though, is just starting this process of spawning or splintering, depending on how you look at it. Poison The Well is among the army of hardcore bands that is pushing the extremity of blistering stop-and-go rhythms much like Converge, in addition to combining the most agonized of vocals with clean singing and some eery strummy sections. When vocalist Jeff ventures into one of his speaking passages, it reminds me of former (and now returned!) One King Down vocalist Rob Fusco. Just as evil as they are passionate, Poison The Well is one of those bands, that as I'm trying to come up with the perfect words to describe them, I resort to turning my head skywards and roar like an animal, because that's as close as I can get to a suitable description.

Poison The Well initially sounds like any number of metal bands flying the hardcore flag, but it doesn’t take long to find the nuances that PTW inject into their music to give themselves both distance and distinction from the rest of the pack. Ferocious metal riffs are omnipresent, as are the break-down riffs and the occasional speed/death part, but PTW also combine some acoustic segments, clean vocals, emotionally charged riffs and passages to broaden their musical scope. A recipe that produces its best results on "A Wish For Wings That Work" and "Slice Paper Wrists." While the potential is definitely there for something more, "The Opposite of December…" is a sufficiently brutal offering of ’90s hardcore with just enough beauty thrown in for contrast.

Poison The Well have made quite a splash in the hardcore swimming pool of bands and doing it quite suddenly. The reason is, that they are extremely good! I hate comparisons but if you like bands like Cave In (Beyond Hypothermia era) or "Petioning" era Converge, you will dig this. Don't get me wrong they don't sound a lot like those bands but you'll like them if you like those albums. Very heavy, with intricate melodies weaved throughout. It gives an atmospheric feel to it that you need to hear to understand. Absolutely amazing.

One of the best layouts ever! Striking! Every page hits you with another bright and colorful abstract photo with lyrics, and the cover is just intense! I can't handle it! Musically this is emo-metal in the truest sense. I've heard combinations close to this before, but this redefines both emo and metal in one amazing concoction. Jangly clean guitars and sloppily sung vocals one minute, throat annihilating screams and high speed death metal parts the next!? And I'm not exaggerating. Very melodic, and very powerful. Being from Florida, they definitely display some of the more dominant traits of that area's style, but they also remind me of some of the European metalcore bands that have been surfacing over the past few years. The guitars need to be slightly higher in the mix (mostly during the fast portions) because overall the sound is excellent with easily audible bass and precise drums; a little more volume would give the guitar parts the clarity they need. Poison the Well showcase a very diverse blend, if they can strengthen their songs more for future output I think they'll be really devastating.

Well I must first commend Jacob Bannon on the amazing layout he's done for this disc. I tend to find his artwork somewhat mediocre at times but others it's amazing. This one is definitely amazing. Second, this disc shines above some of the stuff I've been listening to. This is an awesome mix of heartfelt hardcore with emo and some semi-metallic parts as well. I really love the vocals. Hardcore to the max…Screamy but not rough, and totally from deep within. The emo parts on here are really good as well. Good singing and spoken word, which kind of reminds me of Skycamefalling or earlier One King Down (vocals, not music.). This is completely rocking! I'm so glad I got this. If you like good hardcore with a semi metallic feel to it and some somewhat heavy parts but nothing toughguy or chugga chugga, you will totally be into this.

This band gives a new sound to metalcore. The southern Florida sun must give them that twist. They are driven by emotion and backed up with metal influenced music. Poison the Well gives hardcore the new sound that is needed in the scene right now. They put beauty in hardcore. The vocals range from high pitched yells, that sound similar to Clear, to soft beautiful singing that can heard in pop. This band can be liked from hardcore fans to emo kids, and everything stuck in the middle.

Trustkill continues to expand its mafia with Poison The Well joining their ranks. Keeping with their quoted tradition of only putting out incredible music, Trustkill's PTW delivers one of the best releases of the past year. Hailing from the harcore mecca of Florida, PTW creates a sound similar to Morning Again but with more melody. There's also this crispness to their music that will hook you with your first listen. The CD boasts some seriously badass packaging, using pictures of flowers as the backgrounds for the insert.