Metallic hardcore – no more and no less. But before you click away, think about why you might object to those two words. Simplistic riffs based on open-string chugging? Breakdowns filled with karate-chopping idiots? Too many knuckleheads in military caps? xDeathstarx can't do anything about the latter, but it's firmly squashed the first two. On its second album, the California band unleashes focused, powerful metallic hardcore that demands one's attention.
Of course, visual presentation helps. Without playing a note, xDeathstarx is a sight to behold. The bio says seven members and three singers; the website says eight members and four singers. Whatever the case, xDeathstarx is the frickin' Polyphonic Spree of hardcore. How they fit everyone on stage, much less in the van, is anyone's guess. But this isn't a gimmick. After all, the band must have a reason for splitting the gig money seven or eight ways. In this case, more is more. The sheer multiplicity of sounds gives the vocals undeniable energy; when the singers break into huge gang choruses, like on the title track and "The Great Opiate," the results are massive.
Much hardcore now is basically thrash metal with breakdowns (Terror and Bloodlined Calligraphy come to mind), and that's the case with xDeathstarx. But the band stands out in three ways. First, its riffs are melodic without ripping off Swedish metal. This is refreshing in a scene overrun with At the Gates wannabes. Second, the songs keep breakdowns to a minimum; when they do drop, they actually mean something. Lastly, the songs have impeccable arrangements. Grooves never go on too long, and transitions are smart and subtle. For example, "Burn Everything" begins with blastbeats. After eight bars, the drums switch to thrash beats, while the riffs remain the same. Touches like this help keep the songs moving.
In case the x's didn't tip you off, xDeathstarx is a straight edge band. Not only that, they're also Christian. Being a straight edge Christian hardcore band pretty much guarantees a user rating below 4 on Blabbermouth. But if you have that knee-jerk reaction, examine why. Satan gets plenty of airtime in the metal media. The existence of Satan presupposes the existence of God. Without empirical evidence, why should one view carry more weight than the other? These lyrics are far from preachy; they only hint at that when they tell Christians to improve themselves. Otherwise, they question authority and build community – themes common to both metal and hardcore.
