Hearts Fail- Medallion

Following up 2004's The Empty Promise, Hearts Fail are back with another dose of hearty post-punk-influenced alt/goth rock on the 4-song Medallion demo. Vocalist Robert Wagner goes for a more straightforward approach here, largely skirting the wobbly Ian Curtis imitation of the band's debut and proving far more impressive. The band's music, highly permeated by hints of The Chameleons and The Cure, is equally impressive if not more so, featuring excellent performances all around, from Ruben Salazar's unusually diverse percussion backing to Michael Lampe's strong bass foundation and Roberto Medina's excellent lead guitar work.

The opening "Vivisect" is a killer theatrical rocker with a number of impressive guitar bridges that's more up-tempo and dynamic than its title may suggest. "Poison", on the other hand, is a mellow, atmospheric offering with interesting percussion that spans over 6 minutes, intensity bubbling beneath the surface and threatening to explode all the while. The more upbeat synth-piano-based rock of "Dissuade", while probably the least memorable here, is still a fairly dynamic and interesting spin on the band's sound, while the atmospheric, powerful closer "Daedalus" goes straight for the tribal drumming, steady bass leading the way through Medina's soaring guitar soloing.

A strong 4-song set that showcases even more impressive performances and songwriting than that found on their debut, Hearts Fail's Medallion demo is a noteworthy offering that points to a promising future for the band. Be sure to check out their site and stop by their myspace page (www.myspace.com/heartsfail) to have a listen for yourself!