You Come Before You
Poison the Well · 2003
43 min · 12 tracks · hardcore punk
A visceral blend of metalcore and post-hardcore that channels raw emotion through intricate riffs and dynamic vocal delivery.
Top tracks — play these first
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Ghostchant — This opening track sets a powerful tone with its relentless energy and complex structure, showcasing the band's ability to fuse aggression with melody.
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For a Bandaged Iris — With its emotive lyrics and dynamic shifts, this song exemplifies the band’s knack for balancing heavy instrumentation with vulnerability.
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Zombies Are Good for Your Health — This track stands out for its brevity and punchy delivery, encapsulating the album's intensity while providing a biting critique of societal issues.
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Sounds Like the End of the World — The atmospheric build-up and cathartic release in this track highlight the band's skill in crafting anthemic moments that resonate emotionally.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album's aggressive sound and dynamic vocal styles contribute to its distinctiveness within the metalcore genre.
What we noticed
- Vocal delivery alternates between melodic singing and harsh screams, creating dynamic contrasts within individual tracks.
- Several songs feature abrupt tempo changes, shifting from fast-paced sections to slower, more introspective moments.
- The album closes with a lengthy instrumental outro that gradually fades out, providing a sense of resolution.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- visceral emotional intensity release
- short bursts of chaotic energy
- cathartic moments of reflection
- for high-energy environments
Maybe skip if you
- prefers long, gradual builds
- seeks mellow background sounds
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released on July 1, 2003, 'You Come Before You' is Poison the Well's third studio album, following their critically acclaimed 'The Opposite of December'. At this point in their career, they were solidifying their place within the metalcore scene and expanding their sound beyond hardcore roots, while also facing lineup changes and evolving musical influences.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Ghostchant 3:33
- 2 Loved Ones (Excerpts From Speeches of How Great You Were, and Will Never Be Again) 3:53
- 3 For a Bandaged Iris 4:27
- 4 Meeting Again for the First Time 4:18
- 5 A) The View From Here Is... B) A Brick Wall 3:12
- 6 The Realist 3:49
- 7 Zombies Are Good for Your Health 2:24
- 8 The Opinionated Are So Opinionated 1:34
- 9 Apathy Is a Cold Body 5:00
- 10 Sounds Like the End of the World 4:24
- 11 Pleasant Bullet 3:35
- 12 Crystal Lake 2:50
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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