Artist: Mendeed
Album Title: This War Will Last Forever
Running Time: 59:53
Style: Metalcore/Melodic Death Metal
Label: Nuclear Blast

I'll be frank with you, you've heard this album one thousand times before, and no, it hasn't gotten any better over time. It's undeniable that Mendeed has talent, and whether or not they choose to display this fact is entirely up for debate. If you've ever been a fan of the insanely inane and seemingly never changing metalcore sound but wish there was something that maybe was a bit heavier Mendeed just might be for you. Take 2 parts melo-death, 3 parts metalcore, and 1 part bullshit... put it in a blender, hit puree and watch the mediocrity spit from the bowels of your appliance.

"This War Will Last Forever" starts out with a bit of a throwback to the bands Scottish heritage. Opener "All That We Have Become (Intro)" is three and a half minutes of folk music that I could have done without. The band just swung and missed with me; I don't like to hear intros on any album. If you throw me an intro, it better be of epic proportions, and the following songs better contain sheer fucking brilliance. Either that, or you're wasting my time, and I don't like to waste my time with music I'll end up disapproving of. I'm not trying to sound like an a**hole, but Mendeed has put me in a position where I am just ticked off that this album isn't more than it is. Mendeed has talent and they surely exhibit some uniqueness on occasion but the times they decide to throw in something creative are few and far between.

The vocal stylings of David Proctor make me cringe on occasion. The man displays very good chops when it comes to screaming, but when it comes to singing, I have to think that someone just told him one day without ever hearing "yeah, you're great at singing.. just do it". The vocals can be forgiven, honestly, the screaming is 95% of the vocals on "This War Will Last Forever" the other 5% though have me tuning out.

Musically the band can't seem to have more talent, sounding good even when playing rehashed melodies. Drumwork is usually a high point for me on many albums, but on "This War Will Last Forever" it seems that Kevin Matthews took the As I Lay Dying approach and just triggered the sh*t out of his footwork making it sound a little too sharp, and a little too mechanical. Couple that with the fact that this entire album is too sparkling clear in the production department, and you have a recipe for instantly irritating music.

I can see how Nuclear Blast was trying to cash in on the Metalcore world with this release and how, coupled with Avenged Sevenfold, Shadows Fall and Trivium this band could hold their ground. I just can't see them playing the music this sharp in a live setting. For all their hurting themselves, the band does do something right occasionally, with the song "Withered And Torn" they create an absolutely catchy rhythm and fantastic melodic riffing. Can't hold everything against them, though; the band plays well and plays rehashed 9 times out of 10 boring material. But when they shine, they shine with an eerie brilliance in their music. Cashing in isn't usually the best way to go about getting quality music out there. Let it be a warning to some people.

Overall: 5/10