dead7

As the metalcore genre evolves, more and more bands are beginning to push the boundaries of what the genre means and sounds like. Pretty much anything with breakdowns and intense passages that make way for moshing could fall into the metalcore category, but the genre has so much more to offer than just that. Metalcore is really a bridge between metal music and a variety of other genres and sounds, from electronic music to dance to hardcore.

Enter dead7, a band that truly goes beyond metalcore to deliver something very new and different. The St. Louis, MO band — which features vocalist Jason Kozik, guitarists Dexter Greer and Tim Quinn, bass player Stephen Salyer and drummer Zach Guinn — are building a following with their guitar-focused metal sound that features hard-hitting electronics, eerie keys and passionate vocals.

They have been hitting the pavement for a while, sharing the stage with bands like THE PRETTY RECKLESS, COHEED AND CAMBRIA and BAD OMENS. They've also amassed millions of streams on their own, before signing with Sharptone. Here on their new release the group goes hard, but at the same time, they focus on melody.

For "LOVE WHAT YOU CAN WHILE YOU STILL GOT SOMETHING LEFT TO LOVE", the band got together with frequent collaborators and producers Caleb Freihaut and Ben McGuiness and drew on the inspiration of bands such as BRING ME THE HORIZON and THREE DAYS GRACE, which shows.

Album opener "Blur" starts with Kozik's vocals manipulated to sound almost robotic, as he sings about yesterday and trying to not hide from the things he has lost inside. The song starts out almost acapella before launching into a heavy breakdown with thick guitars and crushing rhythms.

"Hole" begins with hard-hitting percussion before kicking into a winding riff and electro-shocked vibe. From there, "Blood" is one of the most melodic numbers on the set with softer verses that highlight Kozik's clean vocals and pristine melodies. Here, Kozik sings of not knowing what he wants, and as the heavy chorus kicks in, he asks his foe if they taste of blood when they think of him.

The album maintains a similar sound throughout with mid-tempo metalcore anthems, from the effects-filled "Enemy" to the hypnotic "Teeth". Elsewhere, "Tattoo" is a standout for those who prefer a more melodic sound, with Kozik's smooth vocals spliced throughout the song, delivering a creamy compliment to the anthemic guitars and catchy, hook-filled chorus. It's such a beautiful song that it's almost easy to forget that Kozik is singing about wishing he had never met someone. On the opposite end of the spectrum, "Floating" is the heaviest song on the set, with Kozik showing off his death metal screaming amid cutting guitars.

With dead7's blend of melody with a heavy metal edge, they're poised to appeal to both metalheads and those with softer musical tastes, leaving them in a good position for the future.