By Jordan Baker
Screamo/Post Hardcore tends to be one of the most difficult genres to fake passion for. For the most part, it revolves completely around the emotion put into the songs, and it’s easy to tell when a band just doesn’t have their heart in it the way they should. The inverse is true as well, and State Faults are most certainly on that side of the spectrum. Hailing from Northern California, this band’s second full length, Resonate/Desperate is absolutely teeming pure emotion, originality, and captivating compositions. As the whole modern screamo boom is in full effect, State Faults fully understand what it takes to stand out, not just within the genre but within all emotionally charged music in all aspects.
When I say emotional, I don’t just mean the trademark sadness that the genre is known for either. Of course the entire record is tinged with those melancholy melodies, most prominently on the tracks Wildfires and Old Wounds, but there are also strong undertones of anger and even some occasional uplifting optimism. It’s that kind of variety that makes the replay value of Resonate/Desperate so high, especially after their previous and similarly diverse album, Desolate Peaks. Comparing the two makes their progress as a band even more obvious as well, and based on that progress, it’s hard to imagine the band not trying to push boundaries. State Faults are not bent on reliving the glory days of the genre, that much is for certain.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YozZog5DRzI&h=297&450]There’s one more factor that sets State Faults apart from their competition, and that’s how goddamn catchy this record is. Songs like Meteor, Stalagmites, and Diamond Dust, as well as being some of the band’s heavier additions to their catalog, are some of the most memorable in recent times. The song structures are in no way repetitive, which only makes that more impressive. The production seems to lend itself to that catchiness as well; it’s extremely clear and easy to tell what’s happening, but also somewhat distorted which makes the more hard hitting moments on the album even more crushing, and the melodic riffs even harder to get out of your head. There are few if any things that State Faults are lacking, which is exciting, considering they are such a young band with so much more to give to their fans in the future. Although, even if they called it quits early like so many excellent screamo bands before them, this would by all means work well as their swan song. If that’s not the case, though, I believe their peak is yet to come, and when it does, the entire scene is going to know it.
Rating: 4.2/5
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