Sworn In - The Lovers / The Devil

(CD Album Review)

***1/2
Sworn In are not for the faint hearted!!!

Sworn In are a American Metalcore / Hardcore band from Grayslake, Illinois and are currently signed to independent label Razor and Tie. Vocalist Tyler Dennen was formally in a band called Shift into Focus with drummer Chris George and guitarist Eugene Kamiyuk before he added more members and form Sworn In. 'The Lovers / The Devil' is the bands second album, the follow-up to 2011's 'The Death Card' which hit No.7 in the US Heat chart and No.16 in the US Hard Rock chart.

'The Lovers / The Devil' starts off with a haunting melody and weird low down vocals for the track 'Sweetheart' before launching into really dark Hardcore screaming and chaotic guitars that you feel are being smashing about furiously in the studio. The start of second track 'Sugar Lips' is quite hard to listen to and feels uncomfortable, until they come in with clean vocals and Pop Esq. vocal chorus that could almost put them in the Post-Punk / Emo bracket.

'I don't really love You' has a really different feel to it and is very Progressive and Melodic in places... while still verging on Metalcore / Hardcore / Screamo acts of recent years like While she Sleeps / Thy Art is Murder, Emmure, Upon the Dawning and For the fallen Dreams. This track in ways is more accessible than the first two. 'Oliolioxinfree' is so manic and chaotic and a killer Hardcore track that would cause many a circle pit in a venue. It is very similar to songs I have heard in this genre before so they are not making any waves with this one. I also feel they make things over complexed and little hard to listen to... not sure if this is a good or bad thing.

I quite like my music in this genre to be a little hard to listen to and painful in places, so in a way I quite like what they are doing. Also like other people into this genre I like to jump around and go crazy and this band let you really do this. 'Waltz' is just an interlude that leads to 'Pins and Needles' which is one of the best tracks on the album... it has so much too it and the vocals are fantastic. The killer Metalcore guitar riffs with the epic sounding screaming and speed when it get's faster really make it a stand out track.

'Lay with Me' clunks into actions and goes straight at your throat and sounds in places like King 810 a band that I really love at the moment. So this is one of my personal favourite tracks on the records and the haunting Emo Esq. vocals that sound like they have been lifted from a Motionless in White record are just killer. 'Weeping Willow' is nice but is far too short, I was just getting into it and then it stops. Unlike 'Pocket full of Posies' which is nice but feel goes on a little too long, well I wouldn't say nice. It is a evil little slow track with some spoken word angst in it.

'Sunshine' is comparison rips at you and drives their music into your heart like an unwanted poltergeist. It's a track that I would put on if I was in a bad mood, and God I like tracks like that. Single 'Scissors' not to be compared with a Motionless in White track of the same name could be the best track on the album and makes it worth having on it's own. It has in places a 90's Grunge / Nu-Metal to it, while at the same time keeping the references I have made before. If you have not heard this track before I recommend you check out the music video on YouTube or at the bottom of this page, because it is really good.

I love the electronic sounds at the beginning of 'Sour' which is another short interlude. They are spooky and would sound great on an Industrial Metal album. Last track 'Love Drunk' is a frantic crazy mad track to end them album on and sends them out on a bang and let you know they are here... and here to stay. Love the evil Motionless in White style vocals too, this is one of the best moments on the album.

I think this is a band that can be quite diverse and great things are going to come for them in the future. I have to say this is not a record that I would run straight out and buy, but if someone had given me it as a present... I would not object. And it would not spend it's time in no man's land in a corner of my room. It is a good solid Metalcore / Hardcore record, and if you like your music Extreme and bands like Converge, Motionless in White, Thy art is Murder and While she Sleeps you can't go wrong with this record.