Beloved first rose to prominence in 2001, when they burst upon the scene with their invigorating debut EP, "The Running". Melding a stylistic explosion of breezy emo-tinged rock with the raw intensity of hardcore, it was only natural that these North Carolina natives would draw attention, all of which culminated with the band inking to renowned hardcore/metal upstart Solid State Records. Now the band appear ready to take that next step, as "Failure On" is a record that sets a precedent in the emocore leagues and is arguably one of the most realized albums to be spawned from the vast enormity of this very genre.

Few bands have the ability to master one innate style of music, yet Beloved have done that fluidly and seemingly with ease, and astonishingly enough have made the leap to cross over into indie rock with an equal understanding. This is an album that encapsulates the beauty that indie rock is capable of when attempted by those talented enough to do so, as the guitar trio of vocalist Josh Moore, Matt Harrison and Dusty Redmon gracefully execute cascading harmonies that rise and fall with delicate subtleties. Moore's passion on the mic is undeniable, as he sings with conviction and embraces the lyrics with the attentiveness one gives a young child. If Beloved are architects of melodic fragility, then one must note that they also could be considered a sort of hardcore demolition crew, as the enraged dexterity with which they implode time and time again is akin to the effect a wrecking ball and several sticks of dynamite have on a building. The breakdowns found on this record are all-out celebrations of carnage, dismantling the atmospheric structures with vicious glee. Moore's screams are bestial, quite the metamorphic change from the crooning he exhibits throughout the greater part of the disc, and yet his most savage bellows are rivaled by drummer Joe Musten's intimidating vocals, as his guttural inclusion make the band's aural crunch all the more menacing. Lesser groups would falter when piecing these two differing elements together, yet Beloved excel at bonding mellow and pensive with intense and boisterous, allowing the songs found here to develop and surge with emotion, all the while side-stepping what could have easily become a musical collision of styles.

To say that this is an effort that was met with less than stellar expectations is an understatement, but one has to take into consideration all the issues that arose shortly after the band aligned themselves with Solid State. The group ran up against a deluge of dilemmas, including the loss of then bassist Mitch Britt, and the temporary absence of Musten (who aided labelmates Norma Jean as a touring vocalist for a brief stint). Add to this the continuous delays in recording and a production change that found Brian McTernan exit and GGGarth Richardson climb on board and one would expect for a rather uneven record. Surprisingly this is not the case, as "Failure On" is an exemplary effort that uncovers the group's remarkable growth; seamlessly blending whimsical indie rock ambiance with jaw-dropping blasts of aggression. Simply put, "Failure On" is an album that exemplifies how a band can triumph in the face of adversity, and how such determination can unwittingly unearth moments of astounding clarity and vision.