We Came As Romans
Understanding What We've Grown To Be (Equal Vision)
Limited pressing on clear vinyl with blue and grey splatter.
Equal Vision Records has a solid reputation for signing some of the very best post-hardcore, screamo, etc bands out there. Michigan's We Came As Romans are among that group, and their 2011 album Understanding What We've Grown To Be is totally deserving of this sweet repressing.
Their second album, UWWGTB debuted and peaked at number 21 on the Billboard 200. This new re-press "features 500 units on clear with black and blue splatter LP," they say.
We Came As Romans formed in Troy, a suburb of Detroit, in 2005, though they were originally called the Emergency. They played shows all over the Metro Detroit area but, when founding members Jonny Nabors and Sean N. Zelda quit, the latter to attend the University of Michigan, the band changed their name.
By this second album, they were causing and there's no filler on this intense little beast, littered with positive messages and musical therapy. The repressing sounds great, and the colored vinyl is lovely.
Chiodos
Illuminaudio (Equal Vision)
Limited clear vinyl with gold and black splatter
Chiodos are another Michigan band--this time from Davison, a suburb of Flint. Illuminaudio is their third album.
"Originally released in October 2010 and featuring singer Brandon Bolmer, the brand new re-press features 1000 units on clear with black and gold splatter LP," they say.
The album remains a bit of a pleasant oddity; it's the only Chiodos album with Bolmer singing. Indeed, as of now, vocalist Craig Owens is the only "real" member of the current band (filled out with touring musicians).
So it's a one-off. Because of that, though, it's fascinating and the songs are top-notch. Internal politics are always weird, but it's kinda unforgivable that this lineup only lasted for one record.
The vinyl looks beautiful, mind you.
