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JFH Music Review



The Famine
The Raven and The Reaping



Album length: 11 tracks: 32 minutes, 34 seconds
Street Date: May 27, 2008


Thus far, 2008 seems to be the year of reincarnated or resurrected hardcore bands. Earlier this year, Advent was formed out of the remains of Beloved, while Living Sacrifice has (oh happy happy happy) returned and is touring with Demon Hunter, and now three founding members of Embodyment (does everyone remember Embodyment?) have formed The Famine: a fast, grindy, gritty metal band that brings a lot to the table.

Off the top, I can say that fans of Living Sacrifice, especially older LS like Inhabit or Reborn, and fans of Extol will probably appreciate The Raven and The Reaping. Familiar themes of war, redemption, forgiveness, struggle, and loneliness play about on each track. Guitars roar with that cat-in-a-blender-in-a-microwave-in-a-steel-keg-rolling-down-a-hill kind of distortion. There is some nice solo work on "Unending Silence," and drum-work is wicked fast with a relentless grind-core tinge on the whole album.

I can't say as there is a whole lot the separates The Famine from the pack, but this is a must-listen for metal fans that love (as I do) a band that never turns off the distortion pedals. Certainly the lyrics are worth listening to, and I certainly appreciate a band that keeps the sing-along parts to a minimum, and makes liberal use of the throbbing double bass.

This is not a modern metal album by any means. If you're into lots of breakdowns and mush-parts, and melodic emo parts, The Famine is definitely not the band for you. The Famine write smart, uncompromising, metal tracks like it's their job. While this certainly detracts from the unique standout parts that more artistic and melodic nu-metal bands are working with these days, The Raven and The Reaping stands firmly as a presentation of something new, while at the same time belonging to the annals of metal past.

- Review date: 6/2/08, written by Sean Lex



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. Record Label: Tooth & Nail Records
. Album length: 11 tracks: 32 minutes, 34 seconds
. Street Date: May 27, 2008
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Scar The Earth
  2. Behemoth
  3. Consume Devour Repeat
  4. The South Will Rise
  5. Death Threat
  6. Killing For Sport
  7. Cut From The Stone
  8. Ascend
  9. Another Foot To The Shovel
  10. Unending Silence
  11. Stitched In Plastic
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This Friday, June 27, 2025
ALBUMS
7eventh Time Down We Praise You [BEC]
The Browns 25th Anniversary: Better Days Ahead [StowTown]
Franni Cash Wild Child - EP [Capitol CMG]
Matt Crocker interlude [Anotherland]
Jimmy Fortune Songs of an American Dreamer [Gaither]
Roxanne Grace Road Trip - EP [DREAM]
JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise The Live Reunion: Washington, DC [James Town]
Kutless The Seventh Seal - EP [BEC]
Evvie McKinney It Ain't Over - EP (independent)
Rusty Shipp Capsized Empire (independent)
SEU Worship A Forgiving God [Provident]
The Shimmering Carnelians The Doorway (Version 2.0) (independent)
We Are Messengers A Thousand Times - EP [Curb]

SINGLES
Anchor & Braille Rattlesnake - Single [Equal Vision]
ANTHNY imposter syndrome - Single [Provident]
Blanca Right On Time - Single [Curb]
Landry Cantrell & Elenee sunshine & rainbows - Single [DREAM]
Eddie Clark Never Content - Single [Syntax]
Colony House Atomic - Single [Roon]
Megan Danielle Preachin' To The Choir - Single [Provident]
Drea LP & OnBeatMusic Don't Try Me (DTM) - Single [Syntax]
Joseph Habedank Running to Me - Single [Daywind]
Lonnie Hunter Flow (Like A River) - Single [Uncle G]
Kashh Kade HELP - Single [Syntax]
KB x KEANU Keanu's Song - Single [Provident]
Tasha Layton Singing In the Dark - Single [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard The Hand That Keeps Holding - Single [Motown Gospel]
Tim Lovelace Celebration of America Medley (feat. Charlie McCoy) - Single [StowTown]
Lecrae Tell No Lie (feat. Jackie Hill Perry) - Single [Reach]
LO Worship The Perfect Love of Jesus - Single [Integrity]
Patrick Mayberry Thank The Lord - Single [Provident]
Michael Monroe John The Baptist (feat. Chris Renzema) - Single [Provident]
Alexander Pappas A Great Awakening / Un Nuevo Despertar - Single [Integrity]
PEABOD Summer in Seattle - Single [RMG Amplify]
Rave Jesus Walk On The Water Remix (From The Chosen) - Single [Provident]
The Rocky Valentines Nat Song - Single [Velvet Blue]
Saints In Exile & Cutright My Dead End (ft. Jeannie Ortega, Luc DiMarzio, Jericko) - Single [Syntax]
Emilie Weiss Take Care (Studio Sessions) - Single [BEC]

DVD
Jimmy Fortune Songs Of An American Dreamer DVD [Gaither]

Next Friday, July 4, 2025
ALBUMS
Chad Cory America [DREAM]
Tenielle Neda The Way Of Love [Wings]

SINGLES
Christian Back Now - Single [DREAM]



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