It Dies Today Album: “Lividity”

The boys from Buffalo are back with their long-awaited third full-length "Lividity". The album marks the debut of new vocalist Jason Wood, formerly of the Grand Rapids band The Orphan and a one-time touring member of local legends Still Remains. In the first few tracks, it's obvious the band has made a conscious effort to return to their heavier roots, as displayed on their 2004 debut "The Caitiff Choir".

It's hard to blame them though, as nearly all of their fans (moronic metalheads and hardcore kids looking for nothing more than a breakdown to punch the floor to) bitched and moaned when their second album "Sirens" dropped in the fall of 2006. To me, the album was a masterpiece, which might have been the problem. With some of the most skillfully crafted lyrics ever, catchiest vocal melodies, and best guitar work without showing off, "Sirens" was just too wonderful for words.....or meatheads. This time around, the band worked to save their legions of fans by writing songs full of chugga-chugga breakdowns and one-string riffs, which, I must admit, are pretty damn cool. Aww hell, let's face it. The album is fun to listen to. At first, I didn't feel to excited about it, but it grew on me and is one of my favorites from 2009.

The lead single (if you can really call it that) is the aptly-titled "Thank You For Drinking", a song that the band has been playing live for over two years now. The track is one of the album's heaviest and most obscure, with odd time signatures and low-end semitone chords, a dirty and devilish trick the band employed most notably in "The Caitiff Choir"s opening number "My Promise".

It doesn't end there, though, as they revisit many of the elements that helped them win over crowds at Ozzfest 2005, while also entering new territory. "The Architects" displays a faster It Dies Today that we have never known, sounding like a mix between "Road To Damnation" (from "Sirens") and a deathcore band. There's still room for infectious hooks though. The breakdown in "Bled Out In Black & White," while disgustingly heavy and punchy is, for all intensive purposes, rhythmically catchy as hell. So don't think the band has lost their abilities to write melodies and choruses, as songs like "Reckless Abandon," "Miss October," and the epic outro for "Martyr Of Truth" all feature vocal melodies capable of sticking in your head.

It's usually hard to pick a favorite, but with "Lividity," the best song is easily the opening track "This Ghost." It has everything that It Dies Today offers - fast chugga-chugga riffs, start-stop rhythms, melodic lead guitars, a catchy chorus, wonderful vocal melodies, great lyrics, and a killer breakdown sure to knock the walls off whatever venue is lucky enough to host an IDT show.

Sure, "Lividity" is not as well written as their last two albums, but it's still a great collection of songs. Even more impressive is the fact that the band recorded and produced the album entirely by themselves in guitarist Mike Hatalak's Niagara Falls studio. They managed to hold on when things seemed impossible to overcome, with label push-backs, being forced out of their recording space, and dealing with the struggle of replacing not only an original member, but their lead singer Nicholas Brooks, who left the group in early 2007. Jason Wood is a strong replacement. I say "strong" because he isn't quite as good of singer as Brooks and doesn't have the tonal range that was so masterfully displayed on "Sirens." Regardless, he's got what it takes and manages to give the band a fresh, new, and great sound.

I was so impressed with this album. I think it is the best IDT album to date. I thought nicolas brooks was a great vocalist but I think jason wood is just as good if not better. I think they sound very similar. The music is very much the "It Dies Today" sound, just as brutal, just as melodic. The hidden song at the end of the album is a stitch! IDT fans, get this album - you wont be disapointed.

Adam M.

Those disappointed with Sirens will be knocked back in place with Lividity -- though it's still not at Caitiff level. There are very few straightforward tracks -- and many levels of pummeling. TYFD is a neck-breaker, and those with bass-heavy headphones may actually be recommended to dial it down, lest they be painted red.

Still there will be some cocked eyebrows on first listen. I think IDT made a big mistake putting one of their weaker songs at track 1, because this album is loaded with Caitiff-style clean-vocal-free crushers. If they ran first went with Bled Out In Black And White or Thank You For Drinking, then Martyr of Truth and Nihility for the first clean vocals, there would be no doubt that this is a heavy bitch of an album -- which it is.

The band is so tight, musically, that it's exceptionally easy to take them for granted. New vocalist Jason Wood shows potential -- and a few cracks (forgivable for a freshman). I'm excited to hear this band after they've fully gelled. An album next year would be appreciated.

It Dies Today was one of the first metalcore bands I actually liked. In fact, they were a gateway into the other metalcore bands back 5-10 years ago. I always thought Caitiff Choir was just a great album and the band had a LOT of promise. When Sirens came out, I wasn't thrilled at the change they went through, but that's not why I didn't like the album. I just felt as though it was terribly written and all the catchy hooks were simply bland and unoriginal.

Now, I thought that was bad. Lividity takes it to a whole other level. Words can not describe how disappointed I was when I finished this album. Albeit, I'm not as avid a metalcore fan anymore and I've branched out a lot more. Still, this album is about as bad as you can imagine.

Bland and unoriginal. I think that sums this album up well. And to makes matters worse...there isn't even a saving grace. There are no good tracks on this album. I ALMOST thought Martyr of Truth was going to be good, but I got to the chorus and realized it's just another mediocre effort. But it is the best of the worst.

When I heard Thank You For Drinking, I wasn't impressed. But I thought the new vocalist had the right idea from what I've read about in going back to their harder sound. I was excited in that regard. The problem is, the songs are just...poorly written. I've heard it before and it was done better.

Sometimes I feel as though the song is about to swing into a great riff or a catchy chorus but that just drives me into a brick wall 5 seconds later.

Avoid, avoid, avoid. Even if you're a die hard It Dies Today fan. There's nothing for you here.