So far this year the genre that is 'screamo' hasn't been delivering much of anything. Luckily we have Funeral Diner, one of the few epic screamo bands still out there who are still alive and together, and still have time to pump out a new release here and there while they aren't at their shitty part time jobs doing nothing. If you aren't familiar with this band, they've put out successful, but not profitable releases such as The Wicked and Swept Under EPs and their classic LP, The Underdark, which will go down as one of my favorite screamo records along with Envy's Insomniac Doze and A Dead Sinking Story.
So what has Funeral Diner done for us this year? They've released yet another EP entitled The Doors Open. Most of what Funeral Diner records ends up sounding very familiar, with the exception of overall tone and progressiveness. The songs on this EP may not be as epic as the material on The Underdark but for the first time Funeral Diner have created some new sounds to this band that are fresh to the ears. The first thing to notice in the beginning of the opening song "This Wrath" is the signature drumming style which is very impressive and always has been unique in this band. The song overall sounds like any other Funeral Diner track, but it's not until a little later in the EP where the addition of delay and more spacious guitar effects are introduced.
Track four, "Head Of Vecha," sounds almost like an older Hot Cross song with its guitar playing style. Suddenly things change with the subtle insert of delay to the guitars, which really make the song sound deeper and more complete. It's rare for a screamo band to go beyond the basic distortion and clean effects, but somehow in the past Funeral Diner has succeeded in this diversity. I'm honestly glad they've decided to change things up this time around with this new EP.
The final track "This Optimism" is definitely the stand out song on the EP, as it reminds me of their more progressive style and a combination of their more aggressive approach on the EP mixed with that atmospheric touch on the guitars. The build up toward the end of the song is beautiful enough to make the hairs on your neck stand up. When the climax finally reaches is hands down the best part of the EP. It's definitely a signature touch for this band to have a long build up and have it blast into an emotional conclusion and they never fail to amaze me with these types of parts. I would definitely recommend this album to any fans of Joshua Fit for Battle, Welcome The Plague Year, and Envy, and I would definitely recommend this EP for anyone that's looking for something different in music this year.
Editor's Note: In between the time this review was written and being published to the site, Funeral Diner announced their break-up.
