San Diego post/hardcore band Secrets released ‘Everything That Got Us Here’ via Rise Records on the 11th December 2015. It appears that comic con and Amy Farrah Fowler or Blossom, depending on your age isn’t the only things to come out of ‘Silicon Beach’.
This is a follow up to their debut The Ascent, which won rave reviews in the billboard charts, also this is the labels first record to enter the top 200 album of said chart.
The intro is an acapella opener that’s a surprise if you’ve never heard these guys before and especially if they’re linked with the genre of post hardcore. Hardcore for this reviewer is what you’ll call a band such as Sick of it all or Biohazard. The intro to me is a doozie; it’s gives you a false sense of security and then explodes into life.
Secrets have two vocal styles, there’s clean and unclean which has become a common entity these days. Unclean vocals is by newest member Wade Walters. His style penetrates the system accompanied with beautiful timed drumming by Joe English. There’s a vibe that forms from their contemporaries such as ‘Issues’ and the catchy touch of Linkin Park. Their captivating lyrics are an easy listen. These guys are a must for anyone who isn’t into equality and diversity and labels anything with the hardcore tag as satanic music.
Highlights of the record definitely belong to ‘Rise Up’ you can watch their video for this song. ‘The Man That Never Was’ is one to look out for and shows how they mould and make their music an interesting noise. ‘Turn the page’, the heaviness of the vocals is what I love about this style of music; it sits just right for me and probably the front runner as to what track is the best to mosh to.
Now with two albums in the atmosphere, if they continue to Rise Up like their single says, then they’re definitely a band to keep an eye out for. They have recently toured the UK, so if you didn’t see them, you will then need to wait.
‘Everything That Got Us Here’ is a good listen, with contrasting vocal skills. They’ve changed line-up since their formation with the addition of Wade Walters. At times it felt like it’s a battle whether to keep the hardcore tag with screamed vocals. It sounded to me that the melodic clean vocals are more of a focus on this album which gives it a high-level of catchiness. A great album.
Members:
Richard Rogers // Vocals, Guitar
Wade Walters // Screamed Vocals
Michael Sherman // Guitar
Joe English // Drums
Track Listing:
1. Intro
2. Rise Up
3. Left Behind
4. Learn To Love
5. Half Alive
6. The Man That Never Was
7. For What It’s Worth
8. I’ll Be Fine
9. Turn The Page
10. “In Loving Memory”
11. The One With No One