Artist: The Gentleman Homicide
Album: Understanding the Words We Speak
Label: Blood and Ink Records
Purchase: Smart Punk
Release Date: July 11, 2006
Overall: 8.5
Music: 8.5
Lyrics: 9.0
Production: 8.5
The Gentleman Homicide hail from Amarillo, Texas and they are putting their own meaning to the phrase, â┚¬Ã…”Donâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢t mess with Texasâ┚¬?. The band recently released their debut record, â┚¬Ã…”Understanding the Words We Speakâ┚¬? from Blood and Ink Records. With a strong positive message, donâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢t assume that a Christian band canâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢t be brutal and destructive. This record is a collection of ten energy packed and intensity driven songs that will leave you in a feel good, chaotic mood.
Without trying to use too many comparisons, The Gentleman Homicide sound like On Broken Wings if they were an openly devoted Christian band. This record is extremely fast paced, but at times it slows down to give the listener an intermission break from chaos. The breakdowns are heavy, the vocals are in your face, and the music is well structured. Some songs like â┚¬Ã…”No One Dies Without Deserving Lessâ┚¬?, start off slow and incorporate a softer side to the band. Other songs like â┚¬Ã…”Being Torn Apart Through Self Realizationâ┚¬? give off the essence that is enough to make you feel like you can rob a bank (with good intentions) and get away with it. Before the first minute of this song, things start to slow down and you hear a eerie techno beat, only to be interrupted by a breakdown building up to intensity.
The Gentleman Homicideâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s lyrics are filled with hope, faith in God, struggles with oneâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s self, and other common, everyday situations. It is clear to see that this band puts a strong focus on faith, with lyrics such as â┚¬Ã…” Jesus, you left your life so we can leave this place. We will follow Your will down every road, through every city, and when we reach the end, Youâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢ll be there.â┚¬?
Overall, this is an outstanding debut from a young Texas band that is playing music that is impressive, but also doing it with good intentions. Some of the best parts of the record are when the band slows it up, but still has the hard hitting vocals from Josh echoing in the background. â┚¬Ã…”Understanding the Words We Speakâ┚¬? is a record for anyone that believes that you can simply boast your energy level with music. This record is for anyone that enjoys heavy, brutal, and music that will rip you apart with each song, but by the end of the record, put you back together as a better person.
Track Listing:
01. Following A Path To Grace
02. Our Faults, Our Failures, Our Lives
03. The Goodbye And The Morning After
04. A Question; A Promise
05. No One Dies Without Deserving Less
06. Untitled
07. Being Torn Apart Through Self Realization
08. Looking Within The Heart Of Man
09. A World Caving In On Itself
10. In Hopes That Day Will Come
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