It Prevails add their latest effort to the epic plethora of melodic hardcore/metalcore albums being released the latter half of this year with Stroma, an album that's been out for some time but I've put off reviewing because, well, really it's a slow grower. I wasn't impressed at first... not that I thought it was bad, I just simply thought it was good. It didn't have any instant "wow" moments like the previous album Capture & Embrace ("Brothers to the Flames" and "Defences Down" to name a couple).
Unlike the last album though, Stroma is incredibly solid. The last album was up & down, with songs varying between the totally epic and the somewhat forgettable. Though it may not give the moments of instant gratification Capture & Embrace gave, it certainly provides more quantity, which as many agree has a quality in itself. I've become quite fond of the album and I'm positive it out-does their previous material, and is a step in the right direction. Less melody in chords and more of the chimey, plinky picking and guitar-work makes for a spacier, more instrumentally beautiful listen.
StromaReleased: 2011
Country: USA
Genre: Melodic/Progressive Hardcore
"Holes"
"Something More"
FFO: Hundredth, Taken, Beloved
