Way back in 2005 before metalcore and deathcore annoyed everyone, The Classic Struggle released their solid debut, Feel Like Hell, and at the time was one of the heavier displays of the genre I had heard.

Fast Forward three years and unfortunately The Classic Struggle like With Dead Hands Rising and Embrace the End, simply waited too long for a follow up to an impressive debut, and thusly the record sounds a bit tired and stale in comparison. Not because its bad per say, but because I’ve heard so much of this stuff over the last three years, you have to do better than this to make an impression in a ridiculously crowded genre.

Bring Back the Glory isn’t a bad record, but it hardly performs its namesake, instead re-treading a style done to death with energy and skill, but little else. Also not helping is the fact the band seems to have toned things done since their pretty crushing debut-this album is more thrashy and melodic, now comes across like a standard, predictable, riff for riff Unearth clone (especially the vocals of Tim Zlinsky) as opposed to Unearth with fucking huge breakdowns. Bring Back the Glory simply lacks the clout and heft of the debut.

That being said, there are some decent moments on the album, such as the melodic canter of “You’ve Got To Die Of Something”, controlled somber march of “Wish Me Hell” and fierce “Stat Unionville”, and the closing title track, but it all plays like material I’ve heard a thousand time since 2005, (Through the Eyes of The Dead come to mind doing this style way better) and while enjoyable for the genre, its doesn’t feel as impactful and dynamic as the debut did, both musically and production wise. I’m all for bands forsaking trends, in this case breakdowns, but in the case of The Classic Struggle its left them slightly generic and predictbale despite their energy and talent.

[Visit the band's website]

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