STA is a christian metalcoreband from Norfolk, Virginia. The band was formed early 2011 on the premise of reaching people for Christ. They released three albums before this one so this is the fourth but I think you could figure that out yourself. “Epitaph” will be their last release as a band. In the fall of 2014, they decided to close this chapter of their lives. They are influenced by bands like: August Burns Red, Parkway Drive, As I Lay Dying, Haste The Day, This Or The Apocalypse, The Devil Wears Prada.
Suddenly I got the opportunity to listen to this album a month before it’s release and to write a review about it. It will be released on May 5th. I feel honored, let’s hear what it sounds like:
Slowly the Music begins with ‘Holding On’ an intro of 1.02 minutes that makes you thirsty for more and let you eagerly await for more to come…
Luckily you have not to wait for too long because the next song ‘Plot Twist’ suddenly takes over with a sound well known to metalcore. During this song we even hear some piano tunes underneath the mayhem of guitars and breakdowns. And when you don’t expect it, there is a fast uptempo part.
‘Familiar Family’ follows with heavy guitar chugging but with a riff underneath and tasteful twin guitar solo’s. And during the clean parts we are treated to an accoustic part but played with the whole band. This song features Brandon Nathaniel of Haunt. An epic song which shows what these guys are capable of.
Next song up is ‘End-Well’. It begins very melodic with some kind of bellsound from, I guess, the synths. Then quickly followed by the typical screaming and guitar violence. The melody from the start of the song comes back a few times. Again an accoustic interlude, then the song builds up to a climax.
The last song of this EP is ‘Deaf Eyes’, again the chugging what the most of metalcore bands consist of nowadays. Some fast uptempo parts and again melodic guitarwork. That is something in this band that strikes me the most, they control their instruments very well. The screams are also well done, a bit high pitched but sometimes interspersed with low growls. Not something we haven’t heard before, but nicely done.
This record is metalcore on an average scale and then I don’t mean musically, because that is really good, but on a metalcorescale. Not new, but good.
All in all a worthy goodbye from this band. They leave us with a bang. Thank you guys for your Music, passion and ministry……
Rating: 7.5/10
Written by: René Woning
Tracklist:
1. Holding On
2. Plot Twist
3. Familiar Family (Feat. Brandon Nathaniel of Haunt)
4. End-Well
5. Deaf Eyes
Band members:
Mikey Williams
Brandon Hermann
Will Beasley
Dustin Yates
Sean Martin
William Alston
Discography:
“Reconstruction” (2013)
“Questions” (2014)
“Voyages” EP (2014)
“Epitaph” EP (2015)
Record label: Unsigned, May 2015
Buy the album here:
Holland: First Paradox
Norway: Nordic Mission
Video below: ‘Familiar Family’ (Feat. Brandon Nathaniel of Haunt)