Dear Whoever – Sound The Trumpet / 2005 Broken Law / 7 Tracks / http://www.dearwhoever.com / http://www.brokenlinerecords.net / Reviewed 06 January 2006

Dear Whoever is a holdout, one of those bands that still does an emo-infused style without moving completely in the technical hardcore that has become so popular in the last few years. Saying that, it is really nice to see that they have not shifted genres, “A Deluge of Failed Attempts” shows Dear Whoever as a band that is at least as deserving as Story of the Year or Bayside to see the light of fame. The fusion of styles that Dear Whoever uses on “Sound The Trumpet” is truly split down the middle between emo and hardcore; where there are some times on tracks like the aforementioned “A Deluge of Failed Attempts” where seams show, the band puts forth a thoughtful brand of music.

There are vocals during “Breaking The Silence With Your Last Breath” that would seem perfect for a Simple Plan track, but Dear Whoever moderates them with an absolutely intense instrumentation that broods like the most neglected goth child. “Security Without Doubts” is the next shining track of Dear Whoever, due to the fact that the band puts layer upon layer of vocals into the mix exponentially increasing the complexity of what was already a solid track. One can even hear a little bit of “Californication” during “Tears of Ashes”, something that fights with the martial drumming during the track just as the smooth vocals clash monumentally with the screamed-out vocals here. The tracks on “Sound The Trumpet” are not the three minute come and go pop tracks of many of the so called “emo” bands on the market, but enjoy a much longer runtime that allows for extension of arrangements.

This extension leads to the heavy use of double bass pedals during the end of “Tears of Ashes”, making that one of the strongest endings of a track committed to plastic (or vinyl). The band’s scattershot on “Sound The Trumpet” is fairly close; the pure poppiness of the band is enough to save this album from being repetitive in the lease. Dear Whoever have came out of virtually nowhere with “Sound The Trumpet” and I have no problems saying that they will be the next thing once this EP gets a little wider circulation. Look for them alongside Hawthorne Heights or Hatebreed in the next year or so. Make sure to pick this album up before it becomes a collectible, as Dear Whoever will be on the lips of everyone this next year.

Top Track: Tears of Ashes

Rating: 6.4/10

[JMcQ]