Originally released in 2015 with Turkey Vulture Records, CORE has self-released a deluxe edition of their album Broken Heart Syndrome.
The deluxe version of the album takes the 11 tracks that were put out
on the original album and ups that number to 21. The eleven tracks from
the album are on the deluxe edition and then the 10 actual songs from
the record have been reworked acoustically and those are included on the
deluxe edition of the record as well. So, in total the album features
21 tracks.
First, with the original version of the record. CORE features big
guitars and a super-powerful vocal from Jeremy Johnson that’s a cross
between Layne Staley and Kevin Martin. On top of that, the drums hit
hard, and the production is spot-on. The guitars and vocals are a little
off balance a few times – it’s a damn shame to drown out a vocal that’s
that powerful with a mix that’s just a touch off – but it happens.
Anyway, the original version of the record is insanely good, but what’s
interesting is the acoustic version of the record is just as good. The
acoustic guitars sound just as powerful as the guitar does on the
original versions of the songs and the mix of the rest of the
instrumentation is lowered just enough so Johnson’s vocal really gets
the shot to shine. As good as these songs are in their original form,
they might be slightly better acoustically because its they’re acoustic
versions of songs that aren’t really put out anymore. They’re a little
raw, but distinctly powerful. For that reason, it’s worth listening to
the deluxe edition of Broken Heart Syndrome.
This band is good, like really good. They’re different, Johnson’s
vocal has its own badass characteristics and they’re not trying to
really be anything other than a great rock band. If you like that type
of music, then this record is for you.
