The Taste of Chaos tour sucked down its first breath of air last year when the first incarnation hit the road with the likes of A Static Lullaby, Opiate for the Masses, Underoath, The Used, and Killswitch Engage. It was a tour that brought together the worlds of metal, screamo, and hardcore under one roof. The second tour is currently under way with As I Lay Dying, Story of the Year, Atreyu, Thrice, and Deftones. This disk collects some of the best tracks from 36 bands that have graced the stage from both tours. It doesn't cover all of them, but there is a lot of music here!
Like I said in my reviews of the 2006 concert incarnation, the live DVD of the initial tour, and the live CD of the same tour, much of this music isn't quite to my taste. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule, and there is a lot to like spread across these two disks. If you don't mind, I am going to hit my highlights from the disks.
The first disc starts off strong, trying to win me over to their side with The Used's "Sound Effects and Overdramatics." It is a strong screamo entry which is effective in its switches between screaming and more gentle singing. It is followed by a song that really didn't do much for me, but has one of the best titles I have ever heard, "I've Got Ten Friends and a Crowbar that Says You Won't Do Jack" by Underoath.
Matchbook Romance slows things down with their acoustic "In Transit for You." It's a nice switch from the more in your face manner of the prior songs, it provides another face to this end of the music. Besides, I'm a sucker for acoustic rock. Also bringing another flavor to the table is Billy Talent with "Red Flag," a previously unreleased track. The song sounds, to me, like a quirky Green Day track. There is something about it that I found to be catchy, something akin to a virus. The next track to grab me doesn't really stand out, but it reminded me of some of Offspring's older material and it is a fun bouncy track, "Give it All" by Rise Against.
Leaning towards the hardcore/metal edge is Fear Before the March of Flames with "Should Have Stayed in the Shallows." They were the first band of this set to really veer to the more metallic flavorings. Guttural vocals and a galloping riff draw me in, kind of like Slayer crossed with some of these younger hardcore/screamo acts. They are paired perfectly with Dark New Day and their cut, "Pieces." They aren't quite as primal as Fear, but the guitars have a clear metal sound, while the singing is more emo, and it works quite well for this metal guy.
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