Band: Creations
Album: Ruined
Year: 2009
Label: Unsigned
Myspace

Best Song: Dead Man Walking
Score: 7/10
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Creations is a hardcore band out of Sydney, Australia.  I have to say when I first listened to Ruined; I wasn’t really impressed with the EP.  However, this is why I would never write a review based on one listen.  I have rarely listened to an album the first time and immediately fallen in love with it.  The third or fourth time through Ruined I really started to dig it.

Creations derive their name from “…the gloomy day when humanity murdered Christ; when creator laid His life down for creation, paying the ultimate price for our salvation. The picture is vulgar and the message is offensive; repent and believe the Gospel.”  I really like bands that believe they have a purpose for their music and not just that it is something cool to do.  To me it seems like bands with a purpose put a lot more passion and intensity in their songs.  The same goes for Creations.  You can feel their passion ooze from your speakers.  You may not like Creations message but you cannot deny the passion and ferocity with which they play.

There is a lot to like about Ruined.  It is extremely hard hitting with deep growling vocals.  I was glad to see that there are only clean vocals on the last track “Idols.”  I feel that a lot of hardcore is getting to soft because of clean vocals.  I like a mixture of both screams and clean vocals but it is getting out of hand.

I liked the track “Dead Man Walking” the best because it is pretty chaotic in every aspect.  It starts out hard and fast then slows down only to speed up again.  At about two minutes in, it sounds like the song is slowing fading out and you will get to the next track.  Just as soon as you think that, Creations hits as hard as ever pulling you back in.  Lyrically, I feel like it is vocalists Michael Foss’ best performance because he mixes in some deep groans and some higher screams.   Guitarist, James Thorpe, adds a few more riffs than in other songs.  There is not much to dislike about this EP.  My only issue was I wish that the drums and bass were a little louder, but then again I probably like a little more bass in my hardcore/metal than most listeners.

Currently Creations is doing a few shows in the United States to help promote this EP and no doubt get the attention of a few labels.  They really seem like Strike First Records material.  Who knows what Creations could achieve with the backing of a label?  Only time will tell.

Overall, this is an extremely solid EP from a talented group of musicians.  I would say that any fan of Advent and another band from that part of the globe, New Zealand’s Saving Grace, would really like Creations.  And really any fan of true hard hitting, growling hardcore music will really want Ruined in their music library.

TRACKLIST:

1. This Is Worship
2. Chosen Generation
3. Gaining Ground
4. Four Our King
5. Dead Man Walking
6. Idols