01. This Side Of The Mississippi
02. When It Was A Game
03. Always Drink Alone
04. Shipwrecked
05. Society Of Ghost Hunters
06. For Keeps
07. The Wonder Years
As a bullet enters the head of a deceit filled sheriff, all that remains is the shooter, his gun, and the smoke wafting from the barrel. Gunsmoke provides the perfect soundtrack for this scene, or any western confrontation for that mater. Rising from the ashes of recently slain For the Crown, Gunsmoke takes center stage with wicks lit and dynamite aimed for disaster. While not a radical departure from the For The Crown’s last album Blueprint, the changes are subtle and appreciated. One common theme heard throughout the 7 songs of hardcore is a Western twinge (which can’t be compared to any other hardcore band) which is layered over heavy/raw sound comparable to Carry On.
My favorite part about the demo is how each track has a part in it that will make you turn up the volume due to its potency. Take for instance the rising firefight in "Always Drink Alone," reminiscent of Explosions In The Sky if they went Western hardcore. Gang vocals chant, "This is all I have," until Andrew comes charging in with, "This is all I…Everything, everything is falling apart." Do not operate heavy machinery during this or injury will surely occur. Another example is the super melodic segue in "For Keeps," where Andrew yells, "Try, you can't break these bonds, I couldn't write a song good enough to give to you, this is the best that I could do," while a backup vocal harmony sings, "My heart is yours for keeps." It’s not a poorly done harmony either, it’s obvious Andrew can sing with melody in addition to letting rage out of his throat at high volumes. On a negative note, the backup parts could’ve been turned up, as it’s too low. If I had to choose only one more favorite part on this demo it would be the breakdown in "Shipwrecked" that tears cactuses out by their roots and hurls them at you in a slow tempo.
If Gunsmoke plays their cards and whiskey shots correctly, they could be the next Modern Life Is War, with heart felt "experimental" hardcore that doesn’t veer so far off the path that it becomes post-something or artsy fartsy.
Recording Quality: 3/3
Format: Cassette
MP3s | Official site
Order from: deadflagblues@excite.com
