Call To Preserve – Life Of Defiance – Review

Release Date: June 8th, 2010
Record Label: Facedown Records
Genre: Hardcore

Florida straight edge hardcore, Call to Preserve have release their follow up to their Facedown debut. This time around the band stands tall with Life of Defiance. With nine defiant tracks making a hardcore medley. Whether it be with a heavy hand or a melodic symphony Call to Preserve provide a wide range of what hardcore has to offer.

Although at its core after a few tracks there is a stain of simple arrangement of standard hardcore jams there is enough differentiation in style to keep it from getting into the same old song over and over. “Thin Skin,” stood out the most with the slow start before picking up the pace the overall thick bass lines are another thing to appreciate. With group chants, fast in your face hardcore, and slow melodic sections Life of Defiance has a lot to offer; only problem is it offers a very basic style.

What the band lacks within their style is something to set it apart from other standard hardcore albums. After one play through there was nothing too memorable aside that it was standard hardcore, after three listens through the same thought remained. Now the album is not a complete failure, but it feels very mediocre and generic.

After giving this album a few listens on several occasions, the album feels like a simple hardcore record. While offering various aspects of the genre on a platter, it falls short to satisfy. Listen before you buy, but unless you’re a Call to Preserve fan or just enjoy cookie cutter albums Life of Defiance seems to lack on the defiance from the standards of the genre. ~James Terry

Score: 2/5

Track Listing:
1. Life Of Defiance
2. Drawing Lines On All Sides
3. Empty Promises
4. The Weight
5. Functionary
6. Desoto
7. Thin Skin
8. Across the Isle
9. Holding Embers
10. Lost at Sea
11. Last Look Back