Since 2000's masterpiece We Are the Romans, there have been a slew of bands interested in recreating Botch's style. If any artist is ever sincerely compared to the metalcore (yeah, I hate that word, too, but what are you gonna do?) legends then you know they've got talent and chops. If they're able to mold the style and make it their own, then you know they've got something worth listening to.
Bad Mask are your boys. Twisting angular riffs, complicated competent drumming, odd time signatures, and even some patented Knudson slide effects wind their way across each relentless song these guys noodle through. The vocals are actually similar to those of the band Fall Silent, but if you don't know who that is then just think of a higher pitched Some Girls-era Wes Eisold scream with a few clean parts that call to mind Alexis Marshall's drunken slurring on Daughters' Hell Songs. There's some lower bellows thrown in, as well, but honestly, those seem to work better live than on record. Regardless, Bad Mask bring back late 90's integrity to the genre, writing serious songs that are seriously good and avoid any of the trite metalcore (Dang it! There it is again) formulas.
www.facebook.com/badmask
Where they started: 2010's V2
Were you should start: They only have the 2; V2 and Strange Phrases and they're both available for free on the band's bandcamp site (http://badmask.bandcamp.com/) so why not get both?
Essential Song:
Essential Live Video: Can't really find a high quality one, so deal
I actually found out about this band as they were getting trashed on the Lambgoat.com message board, but if anyone gave any merit to any opinion that vomits itself out on that site then none of us would be listening to anything.
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