Thoughts on Greeley Estates

Thoughts on Greeley Estates

Ever since I was introduced to Greeley Estates with their album Go West Young Man, Let The Evil Go East, they've been one of my favorite bands to listen to. I always look forward to see what they'll put out next. No Rain, No Rainbow blew me away almost literally. Seven Hours is the theme song I share with one of my friends who I introduced to Greeley. I feel they're highly under rated as a band and really have a ton of talent in general.

I've listened to their older albums and I just am not a fan. It's not really my type of music and I just feel like it's not as good as what they've put out since GWYMLTEGE. Not to say that I think it's bad, just not representative of the talent that they have shown lately. I mean even now some of their work comes off as generic metalcore but everything is still above par to me. 

I think what draws me the most is their use of horror elements in their lyrics and the fact they've made some of the hardest songs I've ever heard. They have a knack for mixing skull splitting brutality with hauntingly soft vocals and structure. It's definitely been the main draw for me when listening to them. It's something I think defines them as a band, and it's a really good thing. Like I said before occasionally they come off as generic but even then these elements keep them ahead of the pack.

Their last full length album, The Death of Greeley Estates wasn't bad really from a musical standpoint, but it was mixed so poorly, the whole thing sounded like it was recorded in a tube, it's not really the band's fault though. I would like to see them revisit that album and release a remastered version if possible, I feel like it's going to get lost in their discography simply for that reason. 

Their last EP The Narrow Road was perfect and pure Greeley. It featured some of their heaviest work and some of their most progressive stuff to date. It was also mixed perfectly and everything came through loud and clear. I reviewed that one and gave it a glowing recommendation. To be fair if your not a Greeley fan already it probably won't sway you to this side of the fence, but to anyone interested in metalcore it's worth checking out.

I just reviewed the second part of their EP series, Devil Son. It just came of disappointing, not bad, just felt like they could do better. As a fan writing that review was almost painful since I really do find them talented and they are one of my favorites, but I can't just write about every time they do something great and groundbreaking. I don't think Devil Son is anything to write home about, I mean it really does show their growth as a band in some parts, but overall it feels more like something that they would have released six or seven years ago. 

It's just more disappointing than anything, I get they wanted to show off a slower and softer side, and that was sort of the point of releasing a split album. The first three tracks are great, like some of their best work to date, especially Turn The Night Away, which I think steals the show on this EP. Marionette was a perfect choice for a video and is another example of them moving forward, I'd love to see them do some softer/slower songs like those two. The rest is just weak overall, it feels like a regression.

Either way though, they always have me excited, I love being a Greeley fan, and I hope they come to the North East sometime soon so I can see them live. I'm ever looking forward to what they have to release. I just felt like explaining my thoughts on the last review, it took me so long to write because I kept feeling like I was just being too harsh in my criticisms. As always continue to support bands, buy their albums!

Buy their latest EP Devil Son now on Bandcamp or iTunes