Straight Line Stitch - When Skies Wash Ashore Review

Posted by Dan Marsicano on 08.19.2008

Metalcore band Straight Line Stitch has just released their debut album, When Skies Wash Ashore. Does the quintet stand out in a crowded genre?

The Band

Alexis Brown-Vocals
Seth Thacker-Guitar
Pat Pattison-Guitar
Jason White-Bass
Patrick Haynes-Drums


The Track Listing

1. Never See The Day-3:06
2. Promise Me-3:22
3. Taste Of Ashes-4:12
4. Eucharist-3:50
5. Black Veil-3:13
6. Adult Cinema-4:05
7. What Can You Do To Me?-3:47
8. Seneca Tragedy-3:38
9. World Made Flesh-4:50
10. Yesterday’s Gone-4:37





The Review

Metalcore is a genre that many will say has run its course. There really isn’t much innovation left in the genre, with most bands opting to incorporate thrash/speed/death metal elements into their music in order to better “stand out.” Knoxville, TN quintet Straight Line Stitch is taking a different approach to freshen up a stale genre. Instead of trying to be more brutal or faster than everybody else, Straight Line Stitch is making catchy choruses and melody their #1 priority. Sure, there are breakdowns that will make hardcore fans happy and screeched female vocals that tear into your skull, but at the end of the day, what works for the band is their ear for an accessible, tuneful sound that will surprise metalcore fans.

“Never See The Day” is a quick opening number that shows the contrast in styles that Straight Line Stitch goes through. Starting out as a fast-paced song, the track diverges into a clean vocal, keyboard-heavy second half that shows the range that Brown has as a vocalist. “Promise Me” brings one of the catchiest choruses I have had the pleasure of hearing in a while, one that will have you singing out loud at the most inappropriate moments (like in the middle of work or at church).

The hardcore sound makes its appearance well known in the first half of When Skies Wash Ashore, with singer Brown sharing “Taste Of Ashes” with Hatebreed frontman Jamey Jasta to gain some street credibility. It’s actually one of the weaker tracks on the album, as Jasta out-screams Brown by a long-shot, before mysteriously disappearing from the majority of the track’s second half.

As the album goes on, it becomes evident that Straight Line Stitch works better when Brown uses her wide vocal range for maximum emotional impact. Her clean vocals actually fit the band better and the other members sound more comfortable with a softer, yet edgier, sound. “Eucharist” and “What Can You Do To Me?” are ballad-y in nature, with a heavy emphasis on bass and clean electric guitar. There’s still energy behind these tracks, with upbeat choruses, but the furious nature is toned down a notch. Closing track “Yesterday’s Gone” is an acoustic driven track that shows Brown at her best and the guitarists pulling off some classical playing with a progressive edge to it.

The “hardcore” tracks are there, but the clean vocals become more prevalent in the second half and When Skies Wash Ashore is better off for it. Tracks like “Black Veil” and “Adult Cinema” are brutal and even incorporate a few blastbeats from time to time, but the melody is always lying underneath, especially in the choruses. I really think the band should drop the hardcore elements of their sound, as the melodic moments are the highlight of When Skies Wash Ashore.

Like I said earlier, Alexis Brown has a great vocal range, going for a deep growl to an angelic, soothing sound in an instant. She is a valuable aspect of the band and a great acquisition to replace former vocalist James Davila. The other members do a competent job, but not one member stands out over the others. They keep a solid backdrop for Brown to work with. I will have to say that I was most impressed by Seth Thacker and Pat Pattison’s acoustic work on the final track and on Jason White’s bass work in the quieter moments in the middle section of the album.

When Skies Wash Ashore is a metalcore album that keeps the metal to a minimum a good portion of the album's length. There are moments of pure chaos, mostly in the heavy breakdowns, but for every breakdown, there is a cleanly-sung chorus or softly played electric guitar. Straight Line Stitch seems to be better suited for a more, dare I say, mainstream sound, one that can show off the immense talent of Alexis Brown. Usually, the melodic sections in a metalcore album turn people off, but with When Skies Wash Ashore, it’s the other way around; the metal/hardcore sections may actually turn people off because on how well the band sounds with a lighter mood. Metalcore fans looking for something different, other than the same old breakdowns and screaming vocals with occasional, and usually terrible, clean vocals will be wise to try their hand with When Skies Wash Ashore.

The 411: When Skies Wash Ashore would have been tons better, in my opinion, if they dropped the hardcore influences and went for a more melodic sound. Most of the tracks have clean vocals to begin with, with almost half of the tracks being 100% clean vocals. When the band tries to act "tough" and bring the metal, it sounds forced and cliche. The calmer moments are where the songwriting, and the band themselves, shine, especially with Brown's soothing vocal work. The album will probably appeal to any metalcore fans that don't mind a lot of melody with their aggression.

Final Score:  6.0   [ Average ]