Band: Gwen Stacy
Album: The Life I Know
Genre: Hardcore
Label: Ferret

Tracks:
1. The Path To Certainty
2. I Was Born With Two First names
3. Challenger Pt. 2
4. If We Live Right, We Can’t Die Wrong
5. What Will Happen If I Hit Enter
6. The Fear In Your Eyes
7. Playing God is Playing For Keeps
8. Falling From The Fence
9. Sleeping In The Train Yard
10. Gone Fishing, See You In A Year
11. Paced Gold With Good Intentions
12. I’ll Splatter You Like Jackson Pollock

I think that there is a fine line between being a generic band and being a band that plays a simply genre really, really well. Gwen Stacy falls into the latter half of that statement. Out of curiosity, I did some research on the general view of this Ferret Records band and what I found was that a lot of people were split on whether they were truly great or just another hardcore band swept up in the Myspace craze. Since there was no general consensus, I felt there was no better place for me to share my views then right here. Especially since we just spoke with the band last week and let me tell you this now, Gwen Stacy is far from generic and are poised to be the next big hardcore act in America. Their debut label release, entitled, The Life I Know, is a no holds barred, in your face, battle cry filled with angst, religion, and hearts on sleeves that you should not miss out on hearing at least once in your life.

To start the album, Gwen Stacy tell us about the, “The Path to Certainty,” which comes through the speakers like a freight train coming loose from the rails. We first meet pounding drums that get your feet moving before the guitars come in to tear you up while the vocals reach straight for your heart. It seems each song has a few points and metaphors that we are meant to discover and take to heart that are generally based off the band’s religious views and for this song it is easily, “My son, you’re not alone..” The band has said that a lot of their material relates to the struggles in life and the biblical connection between going through problems and knowing there is a guiding force with you is a simple one, but sets a tone for what we should expect int he future. “I Was Born With Two First Names,” has a very similar feel, but with the exception of expertly produced gang vocals that just take the band’s energy to a whole new level. I wouldn’t say it’s a standout track, but it keeps you going and interested in what’s to come. The third track, entitled, “Challenger Part 2,” is a fury to be reasoned with from the get go. Forget about introductions, this song just hits you in the face with blazing vocals and pulsating drums that never let up. This is where we start to see the full force of Gwen Stacy. Yes, there is a lot of double bass drum and chugging guitars, but that’s common for any hardcore bands, it;s the overall structure and mixture of this that sets the band apart. This song in particular, is chock full of beautiful discord and a breakdown heavy enough to move anyone, but still manages to not fall into stereotypical hardcore. The song itself discusses the role of selfishness in life and that’s quite apparent as the end of the song has about 8 lines of, “the selfish, must save their own.” I’m not going to tear apart a lot of their lyrics, as their pretty straightforward, but I will suggest you look deeply into them.

Those looking for some standout guitar work should be sure to tune in to, “What Will Happen If I Hit Enter.” there aren’t glistening solos, but rather technical skills on display here that lay many to shame. Vocalist Cole Wallace speaks of living and speaking to prove that love is real and it feels straight out of his aortic chambers. A similar vocal feels comes on, “Falling From The Fence,” which also displays the band at their musical best. The song is fast and pounding, yet filled with enough heart and energy to make it seem like so much more than a simple hardcore song. TJ Sego beats his drums as if he were pounding the devil himself out of them and the guitars squeal with passion. This was the song that initially let me know there was something special about this band and the lyrics about not hiding their beliefs is one to admire and take heed of. They may not throw their beliefs in your face, but you will most certainly know hat they believe by the end of this song and disc.

The 9th track, “Sleeping In The Train Yard,” starts with a heavy digital overlay that makes you wonder where Gwen Stacy is trying to take us. However, we learn it’s just a little add on for the introduction of this epic 7min. track which has some of the most instrument barren verses heard in awhile, but the lyrics hit hard and it never feels like the length the song turns out to be. Though I should say, once that son finishes and we enter, “Gone Fishing, See You In A Year,” your mind won’t even think about the previous songs as you’ve hit the jackpot in the world of Gwen Stacy. This song has everything that I love about hardcore in it without being too run of the mill. The drums are like a battle cry in themselves while the structure is on an epic scale yet fits everything into about 5min. This is the kind of song that when it end you can only think, “wow.” Following this show stopper is the filler track, “Paved Gold With Good Intentions,” but after that we reach not only the end of the album, but the third truly phenomenal song, “I’ll Splatter You Like Jackson Pollack.”The feel here is pretty straightforward hardcore, but the riffs play like a heavy rock and roll song. Add an epic closing breakdown and more throat wrenching vocals and you’ve got yourself a perfect closer that fits hardcore norms yet shows the band’s own twist on the genre.

If we look beyond the music, it should be know that the production quality on this album is unbeatable. Every single cymbal hit to each mega riff, this album has the kind of sound quality any music fan only dreams of hearing. However, back to the music, The Life I Know is a stand out in a very grey genre. Gwen Stacy has been around for almost four years and in that time have shed many of the stereotypical problems or generic devices inherent in this area of the music world. The album isn’t flawless, as their are a few tracks that fall flat, but overall, there are more hits than misses and that’s the key to us at UTG. Hardcore bands rarely create a flawless album, but even having 8 or 9 solid tracks out of 12 is more than most bands will ever be capable of. Gwen Stacy will be heading into the studio later this year, but it will be awhile before they release a new album. So, if you want to hear what a great new hardcore band should sound like, buy this album or see the band on tour because they have more than what it takes to be the kings of the new hardcore scene.

*Written By: James Shotwell*
GRADE: 7/10

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James Shotwell

James Shotwell is the founder of Under The Gun Review. He loves writing about music and movies almost as much as he loves his two fat cats. He's also the co-founder of Antique Records and the Marketing Coordinator for Haulix. You should probably follow him on Twitter.

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