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One of the biggest success stories to emerge from within the growing Australian emo/hardcore scene in the last couple of years is Melbourne based act Behind Crimson Eyes. In their short three years together, the five-piece act (Comprising of vocalist Josh Stuart, guitarists/vocalists Aaron Schultz and Kevin Orr, bassist Garth Buchanan and drummer Cameron Gilmour) have managed to put together two well received EPs (Early 2005's 'Pavour Nocturnus' and late 2005's 'Prologue - The Art Of War/Cherry Blossom Epitaph'). They've toured endlessly around the country with the likes of New Found Glory, MxPx, Midtown, Pulley, Reggie And The Full Effect, Alexisonfire, Silverstein, Story Of The Year, Rise Against, The Used and Matchbook Romance with little outside support.
With their growing success, Behind Crimson Eyes decided to part ways with Boomtown Records in favour of partnering up with the renowned Roadrunner Records, allowing the band the opportunity to spread their message further into the world spectrum with the release of their debut full-length album 'A Revelation For Despair'. With a percussive heavy build, 'Sex, Lies And Homicide' reintroduces the bold new sound Behind Crimson Eyes has been promising fans since work began on their latest release, and what a transition it is. A tougher and heavier approach has been adopted by the band, which invariably buries the band's emo-rock tag of the past.
If the opener wasn't heavy enough to convince the sceptical, then the riff led 'Children Of The Broken Hearted' certainly is, with Stuart's throaty screamed lines only adding to the overall intensity. The current single 'Shakedown', the chanting 'I Caused Global Warming', 'You've Had Your Chance' and effect enhanced duo of 'A Love Lost Can Be Beautiful' and 'White China Doll' taper the aggression a little to make way for a stronger sense of melody within the sing along choruses.
It's the adventurous songwriting and growing technical prowess shown on the likes of the ever twisting 'My Crime Against Humanity', 'Your Skin Looks Good On Me', the jagged 'Dial H For Whore' and the huge sounds of the closing numbers 'The Underworld' and 'Candy Cane And Pain' that will really surprise fans of the band's older material.
Apart from the niggling inconsistent on the production side of things throughout the album, Behind Crimson Eyes has managed to make the transition from a once promising act to world contender on 'A Revelation For Despair'.
By Justin Donnelly