The debut from Texas band At All Cost sees the newly resurrected Combat Records once again tapping the well and squeezing out another interesting act that fuses elements of metal, hardcore, funk, dance, and progressive rock, much like labelmates Horse the Band. Al All Cost are perhaps a bit more straightforward and utilize less intricate guitar riffs, but their music is no less pulverizing when they want to be. Like The Dillinger Escape Plan, At All Cost go for the maniacal vocals more often than not, but on certain tunes, like "Human Now", they mix the brutal vocals with some clean, funky singing that works to their advantage. Just when you think that the band is going to pulverize you with a non-stop barrage of brutality, they hit you with a new-wave/dance/prog track like "Fabricated", a song that features some neat synths, clean vocals, and trippy rhythms. Perhaps the song that offers the most versatility is "The Hook", a track that at its essence is metalcore, but there's some catchy melodies, effective female backing vocals, and plenty of crunchy guitar riffs. The laid back instrumental "It Burns Black" offers some dreamy slide guitar, violin, and bubbling synth solos, cetainly not what you would expect from a metal band.
At All Cost are off to a good start with It's Time to Decide. It's a crowded world out there for this type of music, but I think the band offers up some variety in their attack that sets them apart from the many bands you see on the scene currently. While their music might not be for everyone, and it's certainly different, I think as they hone their style they can certainly make some waves in the years to come.
Track Listing
1. Death To Destraction
2. The Formula
3. Human Now
4. Polish The Nightmare
5. Right Now
6. Fabricated
7. Noches Desesperadas
8. The Irony
9. This Pen
10. The Hook en
11. It Burns Black
12. The Return
13. What Is Left To Inspire?
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