Leaders - Now We Are Free

I've said numerous times that I'm a fan of melodic hardcore and any band that sounds like Misery Signals is ok in my book. Insert Leaders, the newest addition to the Facedown Family.

While Leaders has elements of melodic hardcore in their music, it's not really fair to throw them into that category. Now We Are Free feels much more like a straight hardcore record than anything else. The Intro (Overture) and songs like Instance and Te Necesito are great melodic hardcore tracks. But Leaders is a hardcore band true and true.

No We Are Free is heavy all around. The guitars smack you in the face on each and every track. Leaders is another solid addition to the Facedown Family and hardcore fans will love Now We Are Free.

My issue with the album is that while it's a good hardcore record and a solid listen, there's nothing super special about it. There are no sing-a-longs, or catchy hooks. And yes, the record is heavy, but there's a lack of diversity. The melodic elements are nice but few and far between.

It's a good debut from Leaders and a solid hardcore record but the album just doesn't have that special something that makes it a great record.