The Showdown
Metal—the one word that describes The Showdown. Emerging from Elizabethton, Tenn., this crushing five-piece band has crafted an epic heavy metal sound for listeners who enjoy their music relentless. The Showdown’s style shifts effortlessly and unforgivingly from Southern rock to European death and everything in between. Lyrically, their writing tells of heroism, sojourns and battles of life; melodically, their crushing rhythm and articulate guitar play takes the listener on a roller-coaster ride of emotion. The result is a brutal and honest anthem for the youth of today in the form of “A Chorus of Obliteration,” the group’s debut album on EMI-distributed indie label Mono Vs. Stereo.
The album’s opener, “A Monument Encased in Ash,” begins with machine-gun snare and piercing guitar interplay, leading into vocals filled to capacity with both hope and restlessness. A choral interjection emphatically shouts, “Stand and be counted, turn from these ruins!” and the stage is set for 10 tracks of chugging, wrenching heavy metal. Vocalist Josh Scogin of The Chariot (original lead singer of Norma Jean) adds his Georgia flare to the song “From the Mouth of Gath Comes Terror” while “A Proclamation of Evil’s Fate” throws aside any pretense of playfulness, opening in full with dueling lead guitar riffs. The full-on assault is soon joined with melodic vocals before an explosion of raging battle cries; an almost classical motif is then twisted into a sharp, biting cacophony of harmonies that move seamlessly united through distinct instrumentation. By the time the album’s last song, “Laid to Rest,” arrives, nearly all emotions have been tapped. A tender, almost tearful acoustic guitar leads into soft vocals and sparse string arrangements, making room for quiet contemplation before the band’s signature assault begins anew, brimming with renewed purpose and conviction. The changing mood is more than a hard-rock parlor trick: The Showdown’s talent spans far and wide, and their firm grip on the human spirit leaves listeners no room to ignore.
Produced by Bruce Fitzhugh (lead singer, Living Sacrifice), “A Chorus of Obliteration” showcases a sound that will instantly appeal to fans of Shadows Fall and Lamb of God, a wide-ranging style that defies subgenres but stays true to the core values of heavy metal. Think intensity and articulation; think reckless abandon with utmost urgency.
Better yet, don’t think—just listen.
The Showdown have shared the stage with As I Lay Dying, Underoath and Haste the Day, and their live show is everything a metal fan could hope for. The group puts their hearts on the table in an effort to connect, both musically and emotionally, with their audiences, and their energy is addictive. “I guarantee that we will give 110 percent at playing as heavy as we can,” says vocalist David Bunton. Guitarist/vocalist Josh Childers adds, “We all like to have fun with it; we’re not angry people, and we think our live show reflects that.”
So metal fans take heed: The Showdown is here in full force, with as much crunch and scream and breakdown as anyone. Just remember, they’re not afraid to be loud, and they’re not afraid to have fun—it’s as simple as that. “We aren’t striving to be whatever-core; we don’t claim to be anything other than a heavy metal band,” muses Josh. “We want to play metal, make friends, and lift kids up.” |
