Customer Reviews

Somewhere in Between

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

At first listen (which was live), I wasn't too into this band. But then I heard them again after a little while and realized that they deliver the goods.

I am a big fan of hard rock...you don't find many "rock" bands anymore. They were either rap-rock, extreme metal etc...Systematic is just a flat out rocking band. Riffs, solos, riffs...and catchy, meaningful lyrics. Plus Narducci actually SINGS! He doesn't have to growl, and his screams are in a manner along the lines of James Hetfield...he maintains his vocal brilliance.

It is a shame more bands don't take an approach like this. Good old rock is what this world needs!

Before I bought and listened to this CD, I didn't know what exactly I was going to get. Systematic were an unknown band to me. I came across this CD while shopping for my typical Alternative or Metal music CDs. When I saw this bands CD, I assumed they're one of my two favorite music genres. So I bought their CD. HOT DAMN, do I ever love this band. They don't sound hard enough to be Metal. Plus their music has too much of a bite to be Alternative. Systematic is an amazing band. So I will not label them as any kind of genre at all. Systematic ROCKS!!! plain and simply. Can't wait to listen to their next CD. 8D

This has an infectious sound. You will listen to it and nothing else. The singer is a little like chris cornell of soundgarden, he has a high wail singing voice and a low soulful singing. I can't imagine how anyone could not like this album. It is nu-metal at its best. As far as the albums I have bought this year, this is the one i have liked the best. The best song is "pitch black" which sounds completely different from the others.

This album captures exactly what you would want a true metal album to be. Creative guitar riffs, great licks, and vocals that blend so well. Ive seen these guys live and it sounded just as good if not better than the album. They are the real deal. No bullcrap, just killer music.

I first saw these guys in SIC-Carbondale, IL, when I went to see a Godsmack concert. They opened up for Cold, Staind, and , of course, Godsmack (both of which rock out!). They were setting up and I was like, "Who the **** is 'Systematic'?!" Then I heard them play. I'd have to say, at that concert they were at least as good, if not better than Staind and Godsmack and they absolutely demolished Cold. They are an extremely versatile band, they can go from rip-your-brains-out-through-you-nose rockin riffs to make-you-wanna-cry ballads, it's GREAT! If you like 'obscure' bands, do yourself a favor and pick this cut up. I've introdused this album to friends of mine, most hard rockers, and they ALL absolutely dig Systematic now.

Somehow, Lars found a diamond in the rough here. These guys may sound like just another nu-metal band at first listen, but listen deeper. The lyrics are much more creative than "life sucks and I wanna runaway". Even though most of the album is power-chord based, the songs as a whole are very diverse. The singing by Tim Narducci is so much better than what you hear from Linkin Park or Papa Roach. Tim may sound a little nasal at times, but he puts a lot more soul into his singing than other nu-metal singers do. And get this, there are SOLOS on this album. Yes, you heard right. You won't find them on every song, but they are there.

Overall, this is a grossly underrated album. I personally have considered selling this album a few times, but everytime I listen to it to make sure I don't want it, I end up keeping it. They should have another album out in a few months, so watch for it.

I first heard Lars promoting these guys on the radio a few years ago. No doubt only Lars could get Peter Collins and Andy Wallace
to work on a debut CD. The expectations were high and while it
wasn't a big letdown it was a letdown nonetheless. The first 3 tracks kick a** but it goes downhill from there. Peter Collins did what he does best. Overproduce. He did a fine job with Rush
and Queensryche but he has no business in the hard rock/metal genre. I heard they had a heavier sound before getting signed. If
that's the case they got neutered by the Collins/Queensryche/ Empire sound. This is why they're not on the radio, hence the album flopped. The singer isn't that great and sounds like an 80's throwback. They need a heavier guitar mix and someone who
produced a Korn or Godsmack album. Then they might taste some success.

Systematic is a perfect example of rocking poets. In all fairness, a lot of bands have really good lyrics in this day and age, with really excellent music to back it. Systematic...they have the best lyrics of any of the rock bands I have seen or heard in a good year and a half. It's poetry, but it's poetry that is backed by really aggressive, gripping rock that is just excellent to hear. Together, you have this melodic concoction of an eargasm called Systematic. It's bands like this that show you that radio is getting worse. I heard one song of theirs on the radio and it didn't even compare to 3/4 of the CD. Since that radio hit "Beginning of the End" I haven't heard a thing. They were on second stage Ozzfest and after that disappeared. No magazine articles, no nothing. Not even a couple shirts on clearance at Hot Topic. They simply ceased to exist. Now, that irritates me. This band's CD had something. I still love listening to it. It had an impact on me and changed my views.

To summarize, I like to call these guys Led Zeppelin for the new millennium. They are good at what they do and do not let rap get in the way. They are poetic and misunderstood. Hopefully, like Zeppelin, they will triumph, and will soon be known as one of the greatest rock bands to ever hit America. It probably will never happen. But if it did, remember who said they were gonna be big first.

In the words of Jack Black: "Me baby, me."

Guess what? Systematic is a nu-metal band, WITHOUT any rapping and WITH guitar solos! Are they the saviors of metal?? who knows, maybe so! Let's just hope that this, their first album, won't be their last or something. It's a really shame that such a band doesn't get any credit at all and [poor] untalented nu-metal bands like Limp Bizkit, KoRn etc does get. The Lyrics on this
album are real good too and the riffs are cool and the choruses simply rock and catchy. The singer's voice cannot fit more to the music than it does now. This is also a very diversed album which contains heavy songs and some mellower. Some songs are heavy and melodic at the same time. And yes, you've read correctly, it contains guitar solos too. Nu-metal with guitar solos. Shortly, if you're looking for some good original metal without any rapping and stuff you gotta try Systematic. The album doesn't even had 1 bad song on it.
EVERY rocker and metalhead will enjoy this. No matter if you hate or like nu-metal, you're gonna like it. Even grunge fans may enjoy track 7- 'Bedsores'. It's been monthes since I've listened to so much talent in one cd.

I first came to love the songs from "Somewhere In Between" from the band's demos. It took me weeks, but I found all of the songs from the band's 2 independent demo releases (Demonstration v1.0 & 2.0). I came to love the songcrafting... the attention to both the heavy and the melodic.

When I finally got an advance copy of the album, I was more than thrilled with the "finished", produced versions of several of the songs I enjoyed so much.

Systematic has a high attention to detail. While their music may not be the most technical, that doesn't mean they are not incredible musicians who know how to write songs that not only they love, but fans can truely love, both musically and lyrically. Songs like "Bedsores", "Deep Colors Bleed" and "Dopesick" show just how amazing Systematic can be.

And for all of you other fans... Tim from the band has been in contact with me for a long time now, and it seems the band is really trying something new for their new album. They have avoided the formula that so many bands have used before to make something different. New Vocal Stylings, Drum Stylings, Song Structures... the band has taken a darker mood to their music. They are trying to write something different... and instead of relying on reused song styles, are starting with what music is all about. Emotion... mood... atttitude. Expect great things from this band next year. All of you who did not, in fact, enjoy this album... you may still want to check out the bands upcoming sophmore release.... I think you'll enjoy it...

And to all of you who love this album... keep supporting the band. They appreciate you all.

To all of you who have not heard this album... pick it up. Check it out. Listen to some truely amazing Rock. Hard Rock... plain and simple.

-Skler Willett...