My first go with The World We Knew was not smooth. The albums production is top notch and the music just flows like nobodies business, but this is a band I’ve never heard before, and to be quite honest, Frank Fanelli takes some getting used to for the first time listener. I’m not saying that after a few dozen listens your going to love Fanelli’s vocal work here, but you’ll get used to it, and from there you can see it in the grand scheme of the bands music as a whole.

TWWK is not going to be a band that I press is something absolutely unlike anything I’ve ever heard before. As a matter of fact the band has a very similar sound to other hardcore outfits on the market and off the market, with various subtle original aspects of their own, of course. What I will say though is that even though they don’t necessarily open new doors for hardcore music they absolutely offer it up aggressively well done. Drums are a mixture of ferocious, where applicable, and intelligently constructed when need be. Guitar is in the in between with some amazing work but also some kind of, meh, moments. I think its because the album is produced so well, all instruments mesh well perfectly and allow vocals to remain one tier above the rest, that you get the full on force of what the band is capable of. Their hard hitting, incredibly fast but masterful enough to offer up slight change ups to temper their sound if they need to pull breaks or simply ease out of an aggressive rift. If anything you won’t be bored with the album.

Now Fanelli’s voice. While it did take some getting used to I can respect what the man does on this album. He’s can pull off a deep guttural growl the likes of Cannibal Corpse or a unique shrilly type scream that I find unique to Fanelli alone. I have to admit that I haven’t grown accustomed to it, probably never will, but I respect his willingness to take the risk of introducing it into the scene. In any case his range is incredible and even though I don’t always agree with the styles in which he employees he makes good use of them peppering the album with variants. It’s just an interesting and well put together ride that I have to say check it out. If you like it then great and if you don’t you can at least say you gave it a shot. As always, enjoy.