An 'eclipse' prevents Volume 1 from being perfect
Posted December 09, 2008
By Nathan,
In between heavy metal guitar riffs and screaming vocals Demon Hunter put out the single, “My Heartstrings Come Undone”, a lighter goth rock tune that had great intensity that did not lack any of the bands poise. Those who are happy to jump on that band wagon but dislike the screaming should hop aboard The Becoming’s debut rock album, Volume 1.
Their gothic rock doesn’t get that extreme but the combination of Caleb Owens’ vocals and Justin Carpenter piano, adds plenty of haunt to almost every single track. “Our first sunrise” is a perfect example of the effectiveness of the piano which transforms an ordinary rock (with a goth influence) tune into a very artistic and inspirational tune. The introduction to the CD “Dressed in black”, is similar to that of Anbelin’s “ready fuels” but that’s where the similarities end with some impressive gothic rock hooks preceding a instrumental treat driven by the piano. “I cry” has a more generic rock sound but the slightly emotional music is quite impressive as the guitar driven songs clicks on all cylinders.
“somebody didn’t come home last night” is one of the few ballads on Volume 1 and while the change of pace is nice the song lacks enough music to make this particular emotional song a star. But one thing the CD is not short of is memorable songs like the “the one to hurt you” which blends an electronic rock sound with the piano and while the rock music is there it’s shadowed by a good deal of passion with the vocals. The gothic music is amplified on both the vocal and the music on “we are already dead” which is anchored by hard vocals and a hunting rock sound. A rather distinct tune is “your love” which is centered on pop/rock with a memorable piano driven bridge.
Even albums such as these where it seems that no wrong can be done the fact is that the music is nothing unheard of (though it is finely tuned) and some tracks like the underwhelming “escape you” and “the night that has no morning” didn’t have to make the cut. “Under the full eclipse” is one of those epic finales where the music is more complex and drawn out to give listeners a full experience. The chorus is complex, meshing vocals while displaying a more original style of music with a solid chorus and great instrumental music to follow.
The lyrics follow the complexity of the album. It’s easy to say that these scary looking guys have their hearts in the right place with songs like “I cry” which is blatantly about how we are sinful and without hope of cleanness without Christ and “your love” which talks about a man finding refuge in God (‘I see your familiar face/I find warmth in your arms/In this place I feel safe/You protect me from all harm’). “The one to hurt you” seem to indicate a search for Christ: ‘Father as I hold your hand/Still holding onto all I have…And in the seas of love I drown/But in the depths your face I found’. One of the main themes of Volume 1 is hope and survival through tough times which is excellently detailed in the final track (‘Can we make it through this endless night?... My world is closing in…But love can still survive/Under the full eclipse’).
However the biggest theme on Volume 1 is death which is detailed in a number of songs. “dressed in black” is set as a funeral with an unsettling line (‘We are killers hiding in the cold’) being out shadowed by the call to life to the fullest. And a similar message is represented in “silent as the grave” which puts down ignoring our mortality and endorsing the fact that hell is real while “we are already dead” seems to be one the same topic (I’ve got to find out why I’m still here/I’ve given all that I can give/But soon, soon we’re gonna know’). More unsettling songs come in the form of “somebody didn’t come home last night” which uses creepy lines like (‘So cut my hands off, watch them bleed/Let the guilt drain out of me’) and while “heaven isn’t so far” seems to be a longing for heaven (‘God you know how hard I’ve prayed/Though it seems I’m still the same/If I could ask just one thing/Could you take this world away?’) there is hinting of leaving sooner than one should.
It’s hard not to be impressed with what the Becoming has done with their debut album with their riveting tunes and unforgettable epics are frequent. The only obstacle is whether fans of the goth rock want to sail through some murky messages and some disturbing lines to find the lyrics of salvation and redemption.
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