The Pitch: Italian metalcore/post-harcore quintet unleash rebellious new anthems in the vein of Architects.
What I Like: Quality riffs: melodic leads mixed with djenty, off-kilter blasts of distortion. The resulting hooks are fun and well-produced. Vocals are very passionate, rebellious, and ripe for sing-alongs. Philip Strand (Normandie) also has a nice guest spot on "Idle Hands," which with its haunting synth additions is possibly the best song on the album. In fact, the work put into effects and other backing flair across this album does add quite a bit to the atmosphere.
What I Don't Like: If you ask me, this sounds a bit too much like Architects. They do a great job of keeping the quality up while doing so, but I feel like their continued existence hinges on finding a way to stand out more.
The Verdict: While As A Conceit have some steps to take yet in becoming an essential group in the genre, they prove with Frown Upon Us that they are adept songwriters and musicians who may just need a little more spark of imagination. Buy here and in all the other usual outlets.
Flight's Fav's: Boneheads, Idle Hands, The Deep End