The transition to melodic metalcore has brought with it My Heart To Fear's second full length album, titled Into The Maelstrom. Rather than more of the band's prior lengthy songs, like "The War," the songs of Into The Maelstrom feel more straight to the point, while holding onto a full sound structure to convey the anthemic, sometimes angry, lyrics. Breakdowns, heavy growls, and catchy clean sections fill up the majority of the album, while a new element is added in as well; electronic effects. On songs, such as the bone-shattering opener, "Blood Money," and "Hell or High Water," the synths add a haunting depth to the breakdowns of the songs, while on "Encased in Glass," the synths do a good job of layering the instrumentation, keeping things alive and moving, on top of the verses and a clean interlude.
Out of the pack of 10, Into The Maelstrom garners some strong highlights. The aforementioned "Blood Money" is a solid opener, that really sets a blood-pumping pace for the rest of the album. The clean vocals of lead vocalist Trevor Pool and drummer Luke Brady are really shown off on the album's driving title track, and especially "Misery Lights" as well, which longtime fans will recognize as the band's live staple, "Elmira." "Life Under The Stairs" adds in some more diversity, found specifically in the guitars in the last minute of the song, which sound something like The Chariot, in their chaotic nature. To close the album, the band take the heavy route, on "Whore Da Culture," which is both musically and lyrically sound, a cry of change against the judgmental, unloving nature that some "Christians" have taken upon themselves.
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