From the first moment I heard the "From The Depths of Dreams" EP by Senses Fail, I was positively blown away. Not because their sound was something new and groundbreaking, but from the undeniable passion of their music. Senses Fail is a heavy melodic rock band with strong emocore and pop punk influences, but the passion contained in each and every one of their songs cannot be nailed down by any genre. Vocalist Buddy Neilsen has an extraordinary voice, it is powerful, commanding, and heartwrenching all at once. The band could be compared to a heavier Thursday mixed with Taking Back Sunday, but Senses Fail trumps Thursday in every department and is as good if not better than TBS. They are by far the best band on Drive-Thru records, which is chock full with garbage pop like New Found Glory and the Starting Line. Senses Fail harbors certain pop punk tendencies, namely in the lead guitar melodies, but they are a far more complex and soulful band than any other on their label.

The dual guitars of Garrett Zablocki and Dave Miller provide a deep, heavy sound with with drop D tuning and superb melodies. The rhythm section of drummer Dan Trapp and bassist Mike Glita contribute to the group's well-oiled machine sound. But the star is without a doubt Neilsen, the tone color of his voice is not only breathtaking but he has enough power to let it carry and echo, turning monosyllabic words into beautifully drawn out tales of heartbreak, loss, and even bitter anger. Neilsen's lyrics are also noteworthy, he does not pull any punches, he writes what he feels, even when it includes being so angry and desolately sad where he wants to kill. Part of the passion of Senses Fail is the bitter honesty of Neilsen's songwriting, his voice is an extension of his tortured soul, an extension which refuses to filter itself, and the emotional power of the music is as strong as its sonic power.

"Steven" is the EPs' opener, the band's tribute to a dear lost friend. It's a nice start to the album, although dealing with death is seemingly one of the lighter topics on "From The Depths of Dreams".

Goodybye, Steven. Goodbye, you friend. You were so young, you were so young.

"Free Fall Without a Parachute" is a fast tune, and Neilsen delves into the innermost quadrants of his soul, which are seemingly very dark. He sings of his desolate dreams about hurting the one he loves.

I had a dream last night and in my dream i took a knife to you
I slit your throat from ear to ear
The wound was gasping for air your scream so clear.

However, Neilsen laments how he could never hurt whoever he is singing of, and how his dreams and their contents hit him like bolts of lightening. You can really feel his pain, and can appreciate, (in a dark way) how it must feel horrid to have such dreams.

But every dream could never come true
Only in my sick mind can I do these things to you.

My favorite track on "From The Depths of Dreams" is the third, "My Bloody Romance". This song is the heaviest on the album, yet still also comes out to be the most melodic, the dual guitars are chunky, but not overbearing, and there are some excellent dual and triple vocal harmonies, which are found throughout the EP and are very hard to pull off, but Senses Fail does so with ease. "My Bloody Romance" ends up ends up being a true anthem of unrequited love, possibly the record and band's signature and best song.

You and me are like one heartbeat.

"Dreaming a Reality" and "One Eight Seven" are also exceptional songs, while "The Ground Folds" is another true highlight, also featuring excellent harmonies and some precision lead guitar work, I marveled at how tight the band sounded on this song, they work amazingly well together and The Ground Folds just adds to that notion.

Beneath the rafters the angels sing
Spinning violence and playing with my heart

This song I wrote, it was for you
To live inside me, I'm dying inside you

"Handguns & Second Chances" is another very dark and dreary tune, but in its darkness some light is shed, another exceptional quality of Senses Fail is their music is heartbreakingly desolate, yet Neilsen sounds hopeful and and optimistic, which is a reason they trump, say Thursday, who has a somewhat sludgy quality that is only listenable when you are in a terrible mood.

To take this handgun to my eyes
And watch my cells start to rise
The flesh now starts to break as the
Bullet enters like a snake
Through one side in my head
and out the other side

"From The Depths of Dreams" closes with a gorgeous acoustic rendition of "The Ground Folds". I would have liked to see another original in place, but the song has its merits when scaled down to unplugged.

Senses Fail is a beacon of hope for Drive-Thru records, the modern rock scene, and modern "emo", which really isn't what it used to be. They are dark, sad, and wistful, yet passionate and hopeful all at the same time. Buddy Neilsen pens terrific tunes and then goes and sings them even better. The production value of the EP is good, however Senses Fail's cohesiveness would have shone through even in sub par production, the band has a chemistry that is very rare in music today. At a mere $7 this EP is more than worth your money, you will discover 8 terrific songs here, each one will speak to you, move you, and even make you cry, but still manage to uplift you and not break your spirits. (There is a nifty free sticker as well) This EP will tide me over until Senses Fail comes to Albuquerque and I can see them, and hopefully until their full length is released. Until then, I'll be waiting with baited breath.



Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Going to Sleep