deepthroat101's Full Review: Endangered Species * by Flaw
I really hate making huge statements like that of my review title, because it’s usually a pitiful attempt to promote a product by gushing over it relentlessly. In this case, though, the statement ‘best album of the year’ could not be more fitting for a record than Flaw’s second release, Endangered Species. Flaw have shown a tremendous amount of maturity, both in their sound and in their lyrics, in the three years since their Universal/Republic Records début, Through the Eyes. That album would go on to sell over 300, 000 copies and help the band establish a cult-like group of followers. However, it must be noted that Flaw publicly said they didn’t want to do a mere retread of their previous work. Endangered Species packs a wallop from beginning to end, and much like Disturbed’s follow-up record Believe, they have created an epic, twelve track album that cannot be called anything less than a masterpiece.
This record also bears resemblance to another extraordinary disc, the unrivaled juggernaut Load, by Metallica. That CD found Metallica in the cross hairs of a large portion of critics and fans alike. Already the general public has dismissed Endangered Species as a ‘sell-out’ by the band, a less destructive album that has turned off hardcore metalheads. The similarities don’t end there, though. Both bands sought to broaden their sound by jettisoning aggravating vocal screams, as well as a more focused attempt at stirring lyrics and a heightened sense of melody over blazing guitar riffs. Indeed, Flaw’s second entry belongs in the elite category of albums that are completely entrancing from the first song to the last, and with little or no weaknesses.
I’ll make the same argument for Endangered Species that I made in my defense of Load: heavier isn’t always better. While some may see it as abandoning their sound, both albums featured bands that became aware of their real talents and decided to put them on display. The vast majority of the reviews I’ve read on the Internet thus far have acknowledged the fact that there’s honesty and passion here that many nu-metal bands lack, but that Flaw’s ‘new’ sound is too soft, or mellow, or whatever. With the band having to go through several lineup changes prior to recording their second record, it shouldn’t be all that surprising to see them tweaking their sound. As a four-piece, Flaw feature a much tighter sound overall, with each member pouring their heart into this record. I’m disappointed that countless mindless head bangers panned Endangered Species based solely on the grounds that it’s too light. I find it important for groups to move in new directions, to constantly twist their sound so it doesn’t become generic. It’s not like every song on the album is a ballad (“Wait For Me” is the one and only ballad here). Most of the other eleven tracks are just as gripping and addictive as on Flaw’s début CD. Above all, everyone should see this album for what it really is: a stimulating and at once exceptionally executed feat that is without a doubt, the best album of 2004. Let’s get to the tracks:
1) Medicate (3: 31)
- The album rips open with the crushing “Medicate”. Alternating guitar lines slowly forge together with a clobbering drum pattern, setting an early heavy precedent. Vocalist Chris Volz’s familiar melodic tone builds to a chorus that’s heavy enough to pound the listener into submission. The final rhythm section features undeniably excellent lyrics, with Volz telling a story of someone struggling to deal with their problems, as well as trying to find a balance in their life. This can be seen in the lines, “I’ve got to medicate myself/ I’m not concerned about my health/ It covers up what I’ve been dealt”. This is a rock-solid nu-metal song through and through, and an ideal way to kick off the album.
Grade: 8/10
2) Endangered Species (3: 45)
- The album really picks up a head of steam with the equally vicious title track. The theme here is that humans are the endangered species, due to our inability to resolve our conflicts. Such is evident in the lines, “If we keep living, like we are/ There isn’t a chance that we’ll get very far” and “We live like saints with sin”. This is an interesting social commentary on humanity’s problems, and the chorus is particularly haunting,
At the top of the food chain we arrive
Are we destined to grow old?
Are we really the right strain to survive?
We’ve got to redeem our souls
The last word, souls, is a standout from the way Volz holds an unfathomably high note almost effortlessly, and it really gives the song a jolt as it shifts back to the next set of lyrics. “Endangered Species” retains the same uncompromising heaviness of the previous track, but forms its own identity with the help of a chilling piano piece halfway through. Guitarist Lance Arny pulls out all the stops with a memorable performance. The four musicians are on top of their game, crafting a song with a blistering pace, and backed by almost inhumanly brilliant vocals. All in all, the title track does everything a title track should: it encompasses all the band’s strengths and ignites them at once for a powerful song that should not go unheard.
Grade: 9/10
3) Recognize (4: 11)
- The lead single, “Recognize”, holds down the all-important third slot. This track is a study of contrasts between the gentle, melodic opening verses and the towering chorus. As will be the norm on this disc, Volz will grab the listener’s attention and never let go. The aforementioned chorus features soaring background harmonies over a notably poignant performance by Volz, who cries, “Can’t seem to recognize/ That stare behind those eyes/ Who is this man I see?/ Who’s looking back at me?”. Volz said this was one of the most emotional songs on the album, “It’s a self-realization song. Everyone goes through changes in their life and I think that’s what I was trying to get across”. After a driving bridge keeps the momentum going, Volz steals the show at the end as he roars, “Can’t seem to recognize!”, again holding the higher notes easily and demonstrating his obvious talent as a vocalist. “Recognize” is the perfect choice for the first single, as it is a nearly perfect song.
Grade: 9/10
4) Wait For Me (4: 32)
- Now that we’ve made it past the initial onslaught, it’s time for the requisite ballad, although there’s nothing run of the mill about “Wait For Me”. An increasing trend among today’s nu-metal artists is that they feel the need to throw in a ballad just for the sake of having something that sounds different. As a result, the majority of ballads these days come across as stale, unimaginative, and clichéd. Flaw, thankfully, avoids this dubious pitfall. Bassist Ryan Jurhs swaps his bass for an acoustic guitar, and Micah Havertape seems very at ease on the drums. This track tugs at the heart of the listener as something that is genuinely authentic. It also features a valuable message that can be interpreted as either a soldier asking their loved one to wait for them while they fight for their country, or Volz hoping his lover doesn’t leave while he’s touring on the road. Either way you slice it, “Wait For Me” is a softer, but still entirely touching song that shows a band that’s not afraid to take risks. Chalk this one right up there with the legendary ballads from metal bands like Disturbed’s “Darkness” or Metallica’s “Mama Said”.
Grade: 8/10
5) Many Faces (3: 59)
- Flaw bounces back to the more metallic sound with the generally acceptable “Many Faces”. The drilling opening guitar hook is as catchy as any on the album. The format of a more delicate rhythm section followed up by a slightly elevated chorus makes this song another entry in the long line of solid Flaw tracks. The lyrics are again quite intriguing, “And if you feel the timing is all wrong/ Here’s the key to remove yourself from harm/ Maybe then you will live again”. Though it seems a little lost at the conclusion, where the band doesn’t seem sure how to wrap things up, it’s still a very entertaining number nonetheless.
Grade: 7/10
6) All the Worst (3: 57)
- “All the Worst” is a song greatly influenced by the tragic events of 9/11. The band is lamenting about the effects of terrorism and war on countries like the United States, and the toll it takes on the people. The chorus lines, “There’s something about this place/ It brings out all the worst/ Our history’s been disgraced/ Who will destroy who first?” pretty much sum up the disappointment and sadness of the current global situation. Said Volz, “It’s about the things that we’ve been through and the times we’re living in”. The music is also up to par, with a hammering drum performance by Havertape and Volz’s always-captivating vocal stylings.
Grade: 8/10
7) You’ve Changed (3: 48)
- Undoubtedly the album’s heaviest moment, “You’ve Changed” comes charging in and takes no prisoners. Early on, it appears that the band is going back to their first album roots with this song. While Volz still does the melodic approach as good as usual, the carelessly placed screams that are strewn about simply fail to make an impact. The chorus, for example, is brimming with rage and hatred, “You’ve changed/ Everything about you is changed/ Look at yourself you’ve changed”. The last lines are even more bothersome, with Volz belting out, “I’m not the one who changed!”, and as such, the second half brings down my rating. An unexpectedly torrid bass line at the 3: 07 mark is suggestive of the opening line from the band’s single “Payback” on their last release. Still, that alone can’t overcome what is evidently a botched attempt at an in-your-face song.
Grade: 6/10
8) Turn the Tables (3: 13)
- Rebounding nicely from the previous clunker, “Turn the Tables” is more of the same solid-although-nothing-special songs in the disc’s center. A truly sinister guitar hook and fiery bass line lead the way here. The lyrics also are much more comparable to the band’s typically high standards, “If your experiences don’t compare/ Just turn the tables/ And stop acting like you really care, you’re not stable”. The eighth track is nothing fancy, but still gets the job done as passable nu-metal material.
Grade: 7/10
9) Worlds Divide (5: 31)
- Beginning with a simmering bass line by Jurhs, the longest track is very much akin to “What I Have To Do” from Flaw’s first album. Both tracks build gradually through smooth vocal sections until a colossal chorus kicks in. Volz is again in top form, both vocally and lyrically, “When innocence dies/ It tends to shake up your life/ Let it consume you and then leave it all behind”. The pre-chorus is equally exquisite, with rising vocal harmonies and layered guitar riffs. It’s capped off with an earth-shattering finale, with Volz crying, “Now you are right where you belong!” Flaw simply refuses to give in to the trend late in an album of stuffing it with dreary, uninspired filler. “Worlds Divide” keeps the momentum going, and as of now, this CD shows no signs of relenting anytime soon.
Grade: 8/10
10) Decide (4: 52)
- Picking up right where the last track left off, “Decide” is another harrowing composition. Havertape sets the tone early with some spot on percussion work, but Arny one-ups him with an admirable, thundering guitar performance from the outset. The chorus, in terms of sheer power and emotion, is topped only by that of “Recognize”. The last minute is arguably Flaw’s shining moment in their career. Guest players Carol Webb and Katherine Livolsi-Stern add beautiful twin violins in between a howling Volz, who cries, “You let them decide/ The course of my life/ We shared the goodbye, and you threw me aside”. Credit producer David Bottrill (TooL) for allowing the violins to stand out from the wailing guitars and rumbling bass, and his work here is in every way superior to the production on Through the Eyes. Words fail to describe the monumental heights this song achieves, and needless to say, “Decide” is one of the album’s most electrifying triumphs.
Grade: 9/10
11) Final Cry (4: 07)
- A speedy rocker from the get go, “Final Cry” goes back to meatiness of “Medicate”. I think Flaw plans to release this song as a single in the near future, and while it’s an unyielding piece, I could name a few tracks I’d choose before I pick this one. Everything seems to be going along fine, until the 1: 51 mark where Volz does a rasping vocal section that just strikes me as a lame attempt to be heavy. The bridge towards the end, where Volz yells, “This is our final cry!” is not much better. Moments after that, Arny winds up with a sizzling guitar riff, and the last thirty seconds are pure melodic wonder. I’ll still give it an eight, despite a few small setbacks.
Grade: 8/10
12) Not Enough (4: 25)
- While not even in the same ballpark as the soothing closer “One More Time” from the previous album, “Not Enough” is still worth listening to. The song is archetypal Flaw; a softer rhythm section combined with a sharp chorus, where all the musicians are equally good. Though the chorus is a bit too long-winded, “Tried to give you what was left of me/ But it was not enough/ Didn’t think about the rest of me/ But it was not enough”, etc., this is a pleasant song nevertheless. The very end of the track features an unforeseen piano section, where only the quiet keys and Volz’s sensitive vocals lead to the album’s conclusion. “Not Enough” is simultaneously dark and mournful song, although there appears to be a sign of hope just around the corner in the lyrics. Endangered Species punches out with a quality number that deserves as much attention as any other song on the album.
Grade: 8/10
Some would argue that it’s a tad bit dismissive to hail a CD as the best record of the year when we’re still a long way away from the end of 2004. Even so, I feel confident that because I’ve yet to hear a better album in the last two years, I doubt one will jump up in the next six months that would make me reassess my declaration. Albums this spectacular don’t come along very often, so established fans and newcomers alike should snatch this one up in a hurry. Whether it’s the punishing “Decide” or the earnest “Wait For Me”, there’s not a dull moment to be found on the entire CD. Flaw’s second endeavor easily met, and unquestionably exceeded my high expectations. All four performers deserve a ton of credit for creating a startlingly emotional and more importantly, honest and passionate record. If the band can push this disc into mainstream, Flaw will be reaping the rewards of their effort for many years to come. As a whole, the album is, for all intents and purposes, essentially flawless. Furthermore, the band has shown that nu-metal is, indeed, alive and well. Most of all, Flaw’s Endangered Species is the standard by which all subsequent nu-metal albums will be judged.
About the Artist: Like dozens of groups before them, Flaw got its start when a guitarist placed an ad looking for a singer for an industrial/alternati...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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