Witness [Explicit]

Witness [Explicit]

Category: (Digital Music Album)

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Customer Reviews

ok music...horrible attitude

Reviewed by Philip Dean, 2007-07-11

I saw Modern Life Is War for the first time and I must say that their music is ok, but their attitude is horrible.

During their 30 min set they threw multiple beer cans at fans...even the ladies, they spit on fans, they told viewers to jerk-off to the bible, they called viewers c@ck S@ckers, they came out into the crowd and threw cell phones on the ground, they threated to fight people multiple times, and after their performace they went on a drunken "lets throw our demos as hard as we can into people's back" rage.
Not to mention this was all done at a Christian music tour - Tooth and Nail with He is Legend and Maylene and the Sons of Disaster.

Im all about giving a band a chance, but these guys are a-holes. they demand respect without earning it or giving it. Their music was ok and I might have actually bought a cd if they didnt act the way they did. I have never in my life seen so many people wanting to jump on stage and fight a band.

On their way to the top of the hardcore heap

Reviewed by Destroy Boy, 2006-04-27

Modern Life Is War caused quite a splash in hardcore circles with their distinctive debut, "My Love. My Way.", a blend of hardcore attitude with post hardcore pacing and melodic riffing that burned at the touch with its sincere passion. This follow up album brings this same approach to bear with noticeably better production and a better overall energy level than the sometimes spotty debut.

Like their last record, this latest effort brings an intricate tightrope walk of furious hardcore and delicate, riff heavy softer passages popularized by post hardcore greats like Grade and Shai Hulud but infuses them with bigger melodies not unlike Hot Water Music. This distinct blend, combined with the urgent vocals, makes for many cathartic moments that would never be possible if they played straight hardcore but also means the energy in each song can shift into slower territory, never quite delivering the full punch a great hardcore song can do. Still, there are a million hardcore bands out there and there's nothing quite like Modern Life Is War.

While almost every song is solid there's only one truly drop dead standout, the scorching sing along "D.E.A.D.R.A.M.O.N.E.S.". Like their last record with the song "Clarity", this song is heads and tales above the others and shows, in ever so briefly a fashion, how it's not hard to see these guys becoming one of the biggest bands in hardcore if they stick it out. If they had an album full of songs that matched the energy of songs like these it wouldn't even be a contest. As it stands now, there's still quite a few numbers that, while still good, just don't stick with you like their very best songs do.

This band has a lot of promise considering they're really just kids and already have two great records under their belt. Their mature, sophisticated approach to the music belies their age and will certainly get only better with time. Only the future will tell if they break into the ranks of the truly great post hardcore/hardcore bands but they have everything in place to do so.

Check out more reviews at ohboydestroy.

Giving hardcore a much-needed kick in the ass

Reviewed by Greg HXC, 2006-04-02

Modern Life is War is quickly on their way to becoming the best hardcore band of this era. For starters, they are far more original than other bands in hardcore, the lyrics are amazing and have a real storytelling feel to them like Bruce Springsteen. This is very refreshing since most hardcore today has sub-par lyrics. The reviewer below had a major problem with this album because the guitars supposedly drone and the drumbeats are boring. What these guys are doing musically is creating space with the guitars, they have a dynamic that most hardcore bands dont understand. It gives the songs an extra punch since youre not getting 30 minutes of fast-paced punk drumming that you can predict. The songs build tension, and when they explode, the pay-off is far greater than any typical hardcore band's breakdown or big gang vocal.

The Outsiders is a great opener, starting off slow, building and building, Jeffrey's vocals coming in with the "So what the f*ck are you goin to do kid?", and from there the song picks up, and doesnt let you go right until the end of the album. Another notable track is John and Jimmy. This sounds like a noisecore song almost kinda like All Else Failed, very different from the others. I'm Not Ready is a nice departure; it's got a rolling snare drum with amazing vocals and lyrics by Jeffrey.

Finally, pick up this album to challenge your normal understanding of hardcore. It's nice to have bands like Comeback Kid and With Honor doing the hardcore punk thing, playing it fast at all times, but MLIW is adding a new layer to this scene, and I welcome it.

Sorry to be the one to say...

Reviewed by Jon, 2006-03-10

I really am sorry to rain on everybody's parade as far as this band is concerned but from my attempts at listening to this cd after buying it, it's just not good. Now maybe after even more listens it might grow on me...but at this point I'm really doubting it. I bought this cd because everybody is just creaming all over about how great this band and cd are, and they play a traditional style of hardcore that I love similar to peers like Comeback Kid, With Honor, Bane etc. I keep hearing how they are "playing the music they want to play, not just throwing in sweet break downs." Well if this is the music they want to play, they either can't play better or just want to play boring music. Let me describe what I mean by boring. The guitars are not even anything close to being anything heavy, its just a bunch of droning guitar work that sounds like it could fit into some dumb indie band. The reviewer below me described these guitars are creating landscapes....well they don't. They just drone and make the songs go nowhere and bores me to tears. Making this even more boring is the use of simple and boring (and no, NOT effective) drum beats. Just like the guitars the beats are extremely slow and take the songs nowhere. So that is half the band. Guitars and drums = boring. Bass....never really matters unless its insanely technical, but of course its not here. That leaves the vocals. The only good thing about this band. The lyrics and vocals are just stellar here. Which to me, makes this cd even more frusterating because I want to like it. Their vocalist should find better musicians who don't want to play such boring songs that go absolutely nowhere and put their listener to sleep because he really is fantastic.

For a comparison example of what this band sounds like...take old With Honor. Now make their vocals even more throaty and really ticked off sounding, slow their drumming down and simplify it to really boring beats, and take out any heaviness they have in their guitars to just droning indie sounding nonsense and you get an idea. I can't imagine that painting a pleasing picture for you, reviewer. With Honor and Bane was, and still is, the bands in hardcore who are playing really good hardcore and "not throwing in all the sweet parts, and breakdowns" and doing it right, not boring. Buy "Heart Means Everything" by With Honor instead. Now I'm sure you're going to click the "not useful" button now since everybody seems to be in love with this boring band, who would not even be hardcore if the vocals weren't there. Lame.

Amazing.

Reviewed by That one kid, 2006-02-03

An all out amazing realease.

Be warned: this record contains no breakdowns - and that's how it should be. This ladies & gentlemen is hardcore. This is a band that puts everything they have into their music. Ranging from bleak, dreary, slow sonic soundscapes created through droning guitars accompanied by simple yet effective drumming to quick agressive chords (definitely not JUST power chords) and energizing beats Modern Life Is War satisfies.
What really did it for me is the vocals. Rawness. Conviction. Desolation. An all around pissed of kid dealing with the world the best he can. Each and every song will get to you. Song subject ranges from Friendship and the loss of it, to war, to just getting through the day with the myriad problems one is confronted with daily

(****note a previous review said the song "John and Jimmy" was about an admiration of the soldiers. It is not. the lyrics tell of a guy who was a soldier and came home. He was regarded as a war hero by everyone. The "passive sinners" line referred to was of sarcasm or from the point of view of a supporter of the war. Quote - "John and Jimmy, say a prayer for us - the passive sinners" passive sinners because they are not fighting for the war and **sarcasm** anyone not fighting in that war MUST be a sinner **end sarcasm** this song contains one of my favorite endings ever.the song ends with "I bite my tongue. I shake your hand. yeah, I'm still playing in that stupid band. 'cause we all do what we gotta do, boys we're all doing whatever we can." - this is clearly not a song of admiration for the soldiers. In essence it is how the 'counter-culture' reacts and operates. That 'stupid band' or, what others regard as stupid, is all he has, it's what he believes is the best way to make a difference - not fighting. Sorry about the rambling but I feel that's a big thing to clear up as it gives the band a completely different feel - one of my favorite songs)

While the lyrics will usually start out in an almost depressing and hopeless fasion they will always contain a message of staying strong and holding true to yourself to make it through. All done without sounding at all whiny and maybe more amazingly preachy as many hardcore bands have a tendency of doing. At the end of the day this record stirs feelings of anger and resentment of the world around while simultaneously being incredibly uplifting. it will also inspire you to overcome any obstacles you have in your way.

As long as you're not looking for some 'totally brutal breakdowns' and actually enjoy heartfelt music this is definitely a great record to get.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED