Alcina
Of Hearts Left Unnourished

Holdfast Records, January 2007
Genre: Metal
Official Site: www.myspace.com/alcinatn, www.holdfastrecords.com
Rating: 3/5

Alcina formed at the close 2005, in Nashville, TN.  With their catchy metalcore sound similar to Haste The Day, August Burns Red, and The Showdown, they immediately began building a solid hometown fan base, drawing hundreds of kids to many shows.  By the summer of 2006 they self-produced an EP and began touring in the southeast, eastcoast, and midwest.  After playing generator stages at Cornerstone Festival, they started receiving label attention.  Just several months later they announced their signing to Holdfast Records in front of 400+ screaming fans in Nashville.  Their 8-track EP was recorded in November 2006 at NME Studios in Nashville, TN.  In January, Alcina’s hometown cd release show brought a sold-out audience of over 700 kids, one of the largest local hardcore shows RCKTWN Music Venue has ever had.  Holdfast Records is a subsidiary of Uprise Zine, a Christian heavy music and skateboarding magazine that is distributed nationally through sponsored tours.

As soon as “An Introduction” kicks in you realize something.  These guys will rock your face off with incredible emotion and raw energy. “The Tourniquet” slices your eardrums with crashing cymbals and metal shavings falling from the fingers of the bassist and guitarist. There is a brutal feel while encompassing a melodic overtone all at the same time. There is also a dreaded scene overtone when the vocals began singing over the intensity of the growls.  Take that as the downfall of the genre everyone is pointing to though. “A Fist Full of Regrets” is an amazing track with a metal overtone that will have you spitting nickels. One thing I love about this disc is the diversity of range both musically and vocally on this disc. Not saying I’m 100% sold on the vocal range but I assure you, I am the music. “Almost Heroes” is a mix of Alcina’s complexity at artists.

Lyrically the album is a positive laced track with a lot of depth and metaphor.  The Christian faith the members share does not come across preachy but yet a more relevant and honest approach within their lives. So, get past the uncomfortable spots in the vocals and you still have an amazing cd more than worth your time to download into your iPod.