Poison The Well - I / III

Several weeks ago, Poison The Well (metalcore juggernaut of the early 2000's turned post-hardcore icon) announced a series of 7" releases that would consist of B-sides from the recording sessions of their last full-length 'Versions' from 2007, leading to the release of their next, early in 2009. 'I / III' is the first of the three planned releases.

Poison The Well's sound has been constantly evolving since the band began, and 'Versions' was folk rock, almost country inspired take on hardcore. It was met with mixed reviews, but I took to it right away, I have always been a fan of the band and I thought that album was definitely one of the better to be released that year.

The two songs on 'I / III' have hints of those 'Versions' influences, but are really a completely different direction than that album. The first song on this release is 'New Fast' which is the most like 'Versions', it's a quick discordant riffed track with the trademark PTW half yell-singing into screaming. It's not really anything to get worked up about.

The second track 'Purple Sabbath' however, is a really different track for Poison The Well and it's really pretty awesome. It sounds like Poison The Well meets something in the Hydra Head catalog. It's a slow droning, heavy track that goes on for about 5 minutes and is unlike almost anything else the band has ever put out. I realize that these tracks weren't meant as to allude where the band was headed musically, but if they decided to write an album full of tracks like this, I wouldn't complain. I think it may be my favorite Poison The Well song yet.

This is really a release for Poison The Well fans to hold them over until the next big one, but people might be interested in some of this new material. I'm really looking forward to the next 2 7"'s now, and I'm really looking forward to the new full length. Check this out.

Poison The Well on MySpace
Ferret Records