You’d think it might get harder to stand out in the hardcore crowd. But since 1994, Trustkill has been a byword for quality, their name being a stamp of approval on the best bands in the scene, and It Dies Today are no exception. Put simply, if you like screams, melodies, crunchy as fuck guitars and a smattering of beatdowns, then you need this. Crucially, this ain’t sing-scream in the vein of Funeral for a Friend, on ‘Sacred Heart’ It Dies Today resemble nothing so much as Pantera. There is one problem they will inevitably face, however. With so many bands trying to do this, It Dies Today are in bad company. There is also the cautionary tale of Eighteen Visions, who over-commercialized themselves to death. But at the very least, this is quality in heavy music, with a melodic touch.

‘Sirens’ , as it slides from furious verses to melodic choruses embodies the ethos of metal while preserving enough of a melody to seduce those searching for a little more sensitivity, yet there is nothing remotely sloppy or saccharine about the latest offering from It Dies Today. As ‘Sacred Heart’ culminates into a ferocious growling and pulverizing riffs, before giving way to “Sixth of June’, a starry-eyed plea to “say we’ll meet again”, it’s clear that, although can’t be called a ‘mass appeal’, this record nonethe less possesses a certain something that holds the ability to transcend boundaries. Thanks to massive breakdowns, a blistering tempo and an anthemic chorus, title track ‘Sirens’ is a high point of the record and, while these guys might not be in the same league as Shadows Fall, if you’re a fan of Still Remains or Haste the Day they’re definitely worth a listen.

Ladies and gentlemen, Trustkill Records has done it again. The label has quickly become a beacon for contemporary metal/hardcore acts, establishing itself as a genre leader. It Dies Today’s sophomore release, Sirens, continues the band’s brutal yet melodic take on metal that’ll have heads nodding and fists pumping across the nation. Disc opener “A Constant Reminder” sets the tone for the entire album. The self-proclaimed “soundtrack to your misery” has the exact opposite effect on the listener, demonstrating the band’s ability to create punchy melodic hardcore punctuated with technical guitar riffs and tuneful anthemic portions. In everyday language, just when your little lungs got sore from screaming to the verses, there’s the perfect pause to catch your breath during the singsong chorus and riff-heavy breakdown. It Dies Today isn’t known for producing tracks at breakneck tempo, and the majority of Sirens is delivered at moderate up-tempo speeds, including the title track. For those who look for speed, cuts like “Reignite the Fires” and “Black Bile, White Lies” boost the adrenaline to keep the CD in rotation. As the album concludes, IDT bring back the rock, ending on an upbeat note rather than the clichéd slow, romanticized, introspective approach. I don’t know what exactly dies today, but it’s most definitely not the career or reputation of one of Trustkill’s finest.

Like most young bands unsure as to whether they'll even have a second chance to record, It Dies Today seemed intent on cramming every one of their ideas and influences into their compositionally scattered 2004 debut album, Caitiff Choir, a nevertheless promising effort whose many loose ends simply required a little more maturation on the band's part to get tied together. That maturity was subsequently acquired over the course of grueling tours with veteran road warriors like Shadows Fall and Poison the Well, so that when It Dies Today were asked to begin work on album number two, the core songwriting duo of guitarist Mike Hatalak and vocalist Nick Brooks were truly ready to make the best of the opportunity. The resulting Sirens, despite flirting with discreet notions of Greek mythology on several tracks (much like its predecessor quietly alluded to Dante) is, in most every sense, a collection of sharp, focused, scrupulously assembled singles -- with very few loose ends, if any, to be found. And it doesn't get any better than opening track "A Constant Reminder": an irresistibly catchy, evenly balanced, three-and-half minutes of metalcore breakdowns and counterpoint riffs, post-emo melodies, and clean-sung choruses, which together constitute the sort of near-perfect single record labels love to bank their budgetary peace of mind on. Then, with that technical knock-out punch safely cocked and loaded, it's evidently a confident band who deliver nearly-as-impressive follow-up jabs like "The Bacchanal Affair" and "Black Bile, White Lies"; occasionally interspersed with unexpected hooks and uppercuts outside the safe commercial metal ring usually proves equally effective. These include the slightly more ambitious arrangements and twin-guitar harmonizing of the title track (very Killswitch Engage), the Pantera-like coda for "Through Leaves, Over Bridges," the Metallica-by-way-of-Trivium qualities of "Sixth of June," and the shamelessly At the Gates-ish (but still praiseworthy) "On the Road (To Damnation)." Groundbreaking invention will unfortunately have to wait until album number three, but considering that inspired discipline (however safe) was It Dies Today's chief goal for album number two, that next step seems very much within their grasp.

It Dies Today has resurfaced with their latest release, Sirens. As expected, the band is all over the place with their sound- metal guitars, emo vocals, even a tinge of hardcore has been thrown in the mix on this one. Whether or not it has something to do with the album's title, the vocals seem a lot whinier this time around. Maybe a bit too whiny for my taste, but the band's dense riffs make up for it. Don't expect anything experimental on this album, just a whole lot of what's been tried and proven. Fans of their previous works will definitely want to get their hands on this one.

Two years after their debut album The Caitiff Choir, Buffalo, NY's It Dies Today have come back with an impressive sophomore album, Sirens; a disc that audaciously makes an obvious effort to defy all expectations of minor disappointment that typically follows a satisfying debut. The central themes of Sirens revolve around temptation, addiction and negative infatuation. “How one taste will haunt the senses and my dreams,” sings Nick Brooks on the turbulent album cut, “A Port in Any Storm.” All lyrical content bears an acknowledgement to a flirtation with disaster through pondering the imminent destruction of the self, or alternatively, surrounding innocents and loved ones. The approach to afore-mentioned themes are colored through shades of lyrical romanticism varying from all-out gothic fairy tale drama to the straightforward shock of realism. There is even a nod to Kurt Vonnegut on the song “Through Leaves, Over Bridges.” As a result, It Dies Today not only come off here as hard rocking, thematically ambitious, and musically capable—but refreshingly thoughtful, intelligent and well-read. The album is consistent, fast-paced and action packed with production courtesy of GGGarth Richardson (this album should most certainly be included at the top of his resume in the near-future) and Ben Kaplan (along with It Dies Today members, Mike Hatalak and Nick Brooks). The mix by Josh Wilbur is guaranteed to make any stereo system throb and pulse. With an astounding presentation, I can't see any way to resist the temptation of Sirens. I gladly recommend Sirens to anyone looking for a great CD to rock out to. When that happens, check out the following recommended high-points, as It Dies Today are firing on some big cylinders: “Reignite the Fires”, “Sacred Heart”, “A Constant Reminder”, and “On the Road (to Damnation)”.

Two years after their debut album The Caitiff Choir, Buffalo, NY's It Dies Today have come back with an impressive sophomore album, Sirens; a disc that audaciously makes an obvious effort to defy all expectations of minor disappointment that typically follows a satisfying debut. The central themes of Sirens revolve around temptation, addiction and negative infatuation. “How one taste will haunt the senses and my dreams,” sings Nick Brooks on the turbulent album cut, “A Port in Any Storm.” All lyrical content bears an acknowledgement to a flirtation with disaster through pondering the imminent destruction of the self, or alternatively, surrounding innocents and loved ones. The approach to afore-mentioned themes are colored through shades of lyrical romanticism varying from all-out gothic fairy tale drama to the straightforward shock of realism. There is even a nod to Kurt Vonnegut on the song “Through Leaves, Over Bridges.” As a result, It Dies Today not only come off here as hard rocking, thematically ambitious, and musically capable—but refreshingly thoughtful, intelligent and well-read. The album is consistent, fast-paced and action packed with production courtesy of GGGarth Richardson (this album should most certainly be included at the top of his resume in the near-future) and Ben Kaplan (along with It Dies Today members, Mike Hatalak and Nick Brooks). The mix by Josh Wilbur is guaranteed to make any stereo system throb and pulse. With an astounding presentation, I can't see any way to resist the temptation of Sirens. I gladly recommend Sirens to anyone looking for a great CD to rock out to. When that happens, check out the following recommended high-points, as It Dies Today are firing on some big cylinders: “Reignite the Fires”, “Sacred Heart”, “A Constant Reminder”, and “On the Road (to Damnation)”.

I see this CD as one big change for It Dies Today. It has become one of the better CDs this year after listening through a few times. The sound on this CD has become a bit more of the singing, faster-paced part of the genre. It Dies Today has made themselves into a better band with the new sound, making themselves open to more opportunities on the metal, hardcore, or emo scenes. Nick is now trying new kinds of screaming, yelling, singing, whatever you call it. The CD still has the sick sound It Dies Today puts out, the sound that will always separate them from everyone else. Like every other CD that has come out this year, It Dies Today has followed this trend where everyone just keeps going in different directions. Overall, I'm pretty impressed with the sound in this album, just as good as The Caitiff Choir. The lyrics It Dies Today has put out on this CD are a bit more heartfelt and still mind-boggling with the big words It Dies Today uses (not that I can't understand it, just when I try to figure out lyrics, it's a bit harder with Nick screaming words you can only figure out the meanings in the dictionary). But, the CD they put together goes along with the lyrics. Songs like "Sirens", "A Port In Any Storm", "Reignite The Fires" and "A Constant Reminder" have shown that IDT is still one of the elite bands. At first, I got a bit annoyed with Nick's new kind of screaming, but I grew to it and really am impressed. Nick has now shown that he can sing, scream, yell, basically anything. He is an extremely talented individual. But overall, the lyrics and singing in Sirens compare well with The Caitiff Choir. This CD has compared well with every other artist that has came out with a new CD this year. To me, change is good, and every band has changed a lot this year with the new albums. It Dies Today shows they can still be good while reaching out to a lot of ends on the genre spectrum. They are still metal and hardcore, with a touch of screamo on the side. I compare their change to the new CD of Norma Jean's "Redeemer", where It Dies Today has become a little bit softer with the sound, but hell, they put together one great CD. The most impressive songs on Sirens are Reignite The Fires, Sirens, A Port In Any Storm, Sacred Heart (Sacre Coeur), and Through Leaves, Over Bridges. I loved the new kinds of singing Nick has put out on this CD, It Dies Today has shown that they are still one of the elite. I also love the new breakdowns they put down on the CD, it makes me want to bash my head off the wall. Nick's singing has also improved, and also the instrumentals have improved. What I don't like about this CD is the constant sound we get in some of the songs, where you know that a chorus or breakdown is coming up. I like the element of suprise. If this CD was stolen from me, I would for sure go out and buy another copy. This was one great CD, pretty comparable to The Caitiff Choir. They still have a great sound, but I do know this CD will attract some new fans, and probably turn away some of the old, where It Dies Today has become a bit lighter. My opinion, It Dies Today's "Sirens" is one awesome CD.

You know, it’s funny, since the start of It Dies Today, they’ve made such drastic changes to their sound. When they first got the ball rolling, they were as brutal as the day is long. Their EP on Life Sentence Records was devastating. It had everyone psyched up to see what the future held for them. Then they were picked up by Trustkill and released their first full length, The Caitiff Choir. Lots of their fans said that they had gone soft. But if they had only known what was to come, they would have praised that record for its diversity. Sirens is their newest effort, and takes them further into the world of metal laced rock songs, instead of the other way around. I have been a positive voice throughout their progression of sound, and this new album doesn’t break that pattern. While the style shift is pretty obvious, it still remains subtle enough to where they won’t lose as many fans as one might think. You get the stability of their riffs, they don’t stray far from the path and are still rock solid. The most noticeable difference is that Nick does a lot more singing on this record than he did on any of the previous albums. Call it growing up, call it selling out, call it whatever the hell you want, but they’ve matured their sound and they have become more marketable, which has its perks in the music scene. They will become more widely accepted and will more than likely see some radio airplay with this album. Back to the music itself, I don’t know how long they’ve been playing but this band has managed to write metal riffs and work them into rock songs with a fluidity that most bands could only wish for. If you don’t enjoy the music, at least listen to the album to find out how to write great transitions and how the rock/hardcore sound combo is supposed to be done. Two things that I could really get with about this record was the fact that Nick’s lyrical style didn’t change a lick when they made the style shift and that they threw in some heavier rock style vocals here and there. Nick Brooks has always been a highlight of metal lyrics for me, because he uses words that actually require an education higher than 8th grade, and while he still sings a fair amount about relationships, he does so in a manner that is actually acceptable. It’s not the obvious “you ripped my heart from my chest, I cry myself to sleep now” lyrics. And the heavy rock vocals are something that I can get with on very rare occasions due to their over usage in radio metal bands. For an example of what I’m talking about, check out the start of “Sacred Heart”. In conclusion: It Dies Today may not be the band that you all fell in love with a couple of years ago, but what they’ve grown into isn’t half bad either. As long as they’re writing records like this because it is what they want to write, then I still back them. Give it a couple of spins and see if it grows on you.

It Dies Today likes to take on epic concepts for their CDs. Their debut was based on Dante's Divine Comedy. Their latest effort is inspired by the mythological sirens, whose call drew ancient mariners to their death. Sirens is a definite progression for the band. It Dies Today is a metalcore group with numerous breakdowns and a combination of harsh and melodic vocals. The improvement has come in their songwriting. The hooks are much more memorable and there are some really catchy and radio friendly choruses. You'll also hear some excellent guitar work from Mike Hatalak and Chris Cappelli. Nick Brooks has a good melodic singing voice and his hardcore yelling vocals are plenty aggressive. He changes things up with the intensity and style of both his yelling and singing, which makes for a much more diverse sounding album.

It Dies Today’s second album is apparently about the struggle with temptation and is the product of the experience of being in a band and touring for the past few years. This theme comes through in the emotive and dark lyrics and its blend of heavy riffs, guttural but (thankfully) understandable screamed lyrics and melodic catchy choruses, like ‘The Artist In The Ambulance’ era Thrice. Even though the record is quite a predictable combination of metal/ hardcore/ emo and has some cheesy hair metal style riffage it’s got a much higher quality of songwriting than most of the also-rans out there and is an easy album to like on first listen, it also gets better the more you listen to it. Stand out track, ‘Sirens’ is obscenely catchy and has the cheesiest guitar twiddling but it’s so good to sing along to you just can’t help but love it and ‘Reignite The Fires’ is full on brutal riffs and demands your attention. The band has a really big sound; full of classic metal guitar riffs and pounding double bass drums but with enough hooks and anthemic sing along sections to make them more likely to bother the mainstream than most. It’s an album that skillfully manipulates you into rocking out along with it and pounds you into submission at the same time.

Ladies and gentlemen, Trustkill Records has done it again. The label has quickly become a beacon for contemporary metal/hardcore acts, establishing itself as a genre leader. It Dies Today’s sophomore release, Sirens, continues the band’s brutal yet melodic take on metal that’ll have heads nodding and fists pumping across the nation. Disc opener “A Constant Reminder” sets the tone for the entire album. The self-proclaimed “soundtrack to your misery” has the exact opposite effect on the listener, demonstrating the band’s ability to create punchy melodic hardcore punctuated with technical guitar riffs and tuneful anthemic portions. In everyday language, just when your little lungs got sore from screaming to the verses, there’s the perfect pause to catch your breath during the singsong chorus and riff-heavy breakdown. It Dies Today isn’t known for producing tracks at breakneck tempo, and the majority of Sirens is delivered at moderate up-tempo speeds, including the title track. For those who look for speed, cuts like “Reignite the Fires” and “Black Bile, White Lies” boost the adrenaline to keep the CD in rotation. As the album concludes, IDT bring back the rock, ending on an upbeat note rather than the clichéd slow, romanticized, introspective approach. I don’t know what exactly dies today, but it’s most definitely not the career or reputation of one of Trustkill’s finest.