Core: Broken Heart Syndrome

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.