Destroy The Runner I, Lucifer

Tracklist:
1. Crumbs For The Murder
2. Isabella's
3. Mr. and Mrs. Cuckoldom
4. Bag Of Marbles
5. I, Lucifer
6. It's Always Cold In Paris
7. A Pathetic Psalm
8. Luxuria
9. On Falling Leaf
10. A Novel Of War
11. A Mountain So Big, A Question So Small

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For several years now, metalcore has been a genre drowning in mediocrity. Hundreds of bands come to light and don’t bring anything new to the genre. The record companies continue to sign more, encouraged by successful frontrunners like Killswitch Engage, Unearth and As I Lay Dying. When bands actually try to mature or differentiate themselves, they usually go the thrash route, and still bring little interesting music to the table.

Destroy the Runner’s previous effort got them little attention, and for good reason. It sounded quite a lot like any other metalcore band (people pointed to As I Lay Dying, like they somehow knew vocalist Tim Lambesis managed DTR). That’s why I, Lucifer sounds extremely fresh. It’s the sound of a metal band trying to find their own niche and leaving their generic style in the past. At the same time, the new direction is also one that has seemingly been tread before.

The largest change is probably new vocalist Chad Ackerman. Album opener “Crumbs for the Murder” showcases his vocal talents – awesome screams and excellent singing. He is seemingly the one who pushes for the move away from metalcore, choosing to sing for a large majority of I, Lucifer’s running time. Not that the album is lacking ‘true’ heaviness – the rest of the band pulls out some great riffs, double bass, and start-stop soft/heavy tempo changes. Ackerman’s screams are restrained, accenting the more forceful parts of select songs.

While the new sound is a welcome change, it’s not all that unique or interesting either. With such a strong emphasis on melody, they feel a lot like another hard rock band – one with metallic guitars and a vocalist who screams often. It’s for this reason that Destroy the Runner still aren’t that great. The musicianship and execution aren’t outstanding, and hold down the formula for what could have been an excellent album. I, Lucifer feels like a comedic actor (say, Jim Carrey or Robin Williams early in their career) trying out a serious dramatic role for the first time, and not quite succeeding at it. While they are “going out on their own”, the music here does not resonate in the realms of originality or timelessness very loudly.

Seeing bands change from album to album is often interesting, especially when said band breaks out of a stale genre to “make their own way”. While the direction that Destroy the Runner is heading looks bright, they’re still stuck in the mud, trying to walk but weighed down by something. I, Lucifer sounds fresh when considering the band’s history and much of modern metal, however it is simultaneously stale and boring. The result is an album that’s good, but just barely.

Recommended tracks:
Crumbs for the Murder
Mr. and Mrs. Cuckoldom
A Bag of Marbles
On Falling Leaf