The Saddest Landscape

Lift Your Burdens High, For This Is Where We Cross (2004)

Jesse Raub

I'm beginning to realize that Noreaster Media writes the worst press sheets ever. Note to Alone Records: get someone else to do your press sheets.

I dunno man, it's not half-bad, but it's not very groundbreaking. The band name and CD name and CD art is lame, but it sounds more like Rites of Spring than this newfangled shit we've been getting from screamo bands these days. The screaming isn't overdone, it's not forced out; i.e. they haven't been studying up on their favorite metalcore acts to brush up their style.

That being said, it's still a CD full of the male perspective of a breakup. I think the last thing I need is more guys screaming about how their heart was broken. Yeah, dude, we've all been dumped before, so we don't need to hear about it all the time. I mean, do we really live in this sappy of a culture? Every time a guy gets his heartbroken, he goes out, gets a guitar, and starts a band. And I'm just tired of it. It's a concept so overdone.

There are really only three allright tracks on this seven tracked EP. The first one is decent, and the last three are the best. These are the fast tracks that are high energy and somewhat interesting, but to tell you the truth, they don't really hold my attention. If I want to listen to something fast, I would rather break out Bad Brains or Minor Threat. This stuff isn't for me. It might be for you. But whatever. Listen to it, see if you like it, if you don't fine, if you do, fine. What do I care?