Silverstein - When Broken Is Easily Fixed

Silverstein are a screamo band from Southern Ontario, Canada that formed in early 2000. With two EPs under their belt, they signed to Victory Records and have since released a full-length record via the label. What's with the biography? Well, I don't expect you've heard of them, as they have yet to break the US. But, I'll admit that I drove four hours to catch them live, which was a move solely based on the hype around the band and my impressions after hearing only one song. Without a doubt, they blew the other acts away. Skeptical that they were simply to good to be true, I grabbed a copy of their new album, expecting to hear a watered-down version I what I witnessed. Thankfully, I was still surprised. Silverstein have managed to convey the same emotion and power they put into their live show on their extraordinary debut, When Broken Is Easily Fixed. Furthermore, while many bands find their niche and stick with it, Silverstein manage to gracefully change between many genres without breaking a sweat. Vocally, they combine beautiful harmonies with gut wrenching screams, while, musically, they're all over the map. "Smashed Into Pieces" and "The Weak and the Wounded" pit hardcore styled breaks against a rising, melodic choruses. "Giving Up" bounces from pop-punk with metal guitar backups to their screamo foundation. After repeated listens, the band's myriad influences are showcased within their sound, but I'd pinpoint it somewhere between the melodic side of Finch and the darker side of Thursday. Though, the interpretation can be solely up to you. Just pick two bands from any of the genres and you'll probably hear their influence in this band. The hardcore and emo scenes are full of followers, so it's good to see that Silverstein are trying to carve out their own space. According to the band, their purpose is to "tear down the boundaries between hardcore, emo, and punk," and I'd say they're headed down that road. [www.silversteinmusic.com]