THE ARRS

Maybe it is true that new school hardcore and/or metalcore — as opposed to a select group of long-time quality carriers and true hardcore warriors — have just plain run out of gas after crossing bloodlines and breeding like bunnies for much of this decade. Or maybe it's the fact that it is more the exception than the rule these days that I come across an HC/MC act that sounds anything better than average. Yeah, that's right; I'm getting that feeling of déjà vu reviewing "Heros Assassin" from France's THE ARRS, as it is bringing back thoughts similar to those I had in a recent review of EDGE OF SPIRIT's self-titled release. The albums are not the same, but there are more similarities than differences.

The point is that "Heros Assassin" is a workable enough album of hardcore bruising and the tunefully-tinged side of metalcore. Many of those remaining steadfastly loyal to the 'core collective will more than just tolerate; maybe even enjoy the hell out of it. It is just damn difficult to get very excited about it. "Decent" is just not enough to warrant a PayPal exchange of dollars for merchandise in a market still inundated with mix-and-match products.

What we're talking about with "Heros Assassin" is an album consistently of workable hardcore, but hardly anything to write home to your geriatric parents about. And to be blunt, the album would have sounded one hell of a lot better without clean vocal melodies on tracks like "Cannibale" and the title track that fall dangerously close to atrocious. Still sounding more like an afterthought than a integral idea, the cleans on "Sombre Univers" — one of a handful that delves into Swede-core — at least move beyond sucking until the singing on "Ma Misericorde" bring back the suck in a big way.

But moving on from a beaten and now deceased horse, the biggest problem with "Heros Assassin" is that few will remember it ever existed by the time 2010 withers and dies. "Decent" just ain't cutting it anymore.