Over the course of the past few years Swift have become a staple of the North Carolina scene while also gaining a sizable fan base online, and with good reason too, as their 1998 debut EP "Thoughts Are Thought" was a must have release in its time. Incessant delays that included inner turmoil and various other snags followed however and now, with four years passed the band are once again back with new music in the form of their full-length debut "Waging War", an album which is seeing a release through metalcore heavyweights, Tribunal Records. Extreme label mates aside though, "Waging War" is a charming emotionally charged outing with enough aggressive snarl to keep any metalhead happy, rife with music comparable to the Deftones, Far, [minus] and more and yet despite some discernible influences they still manage to establish a sound that is unique enough to call their own.

A touching and heartfelt vocal performance is on hand courtesy of band frontman Gary Forsyth whose sincere croons and emphatic nature occasionally touch upon emocore stylings, but by no means becomes wishy washy or contrived. A few ferocious screams are tossed in for good measure and go far to jack up the aggression level of the band while the clear expression of pained emotion also sends them to stunning highs and lows that take the listener on quite the auditory voyage as the disc runs its course. Chunky guitar riffs provide a distorted onslaught that hits hard during the choruses and breakdowns while often dabbling in boiling buildups during the verses, though they are not necessarily limited to such practices as their structuring is somewhat freeform and can also take shape through some atmospheric playing. Wiry detuned bass playing compliments the guitars spiked assault and keeps the musical intensity rabid, aggravating the songs with their fairly punchy demeanor that is cleverly paired up with the hard hitting and energetically played drumming. Indeed the rhythm section packs a considerable bite that is ultimately strengthened all the more by band drummer Jamie King's hardcore influenced style of abrasive beats and rolls.

On the surface Swift may seem a bit disjointed and lacking in the originality department and as such some may be quick to write them off as a ripoff of the Deftones or another similar band. But with a few listens its not hard to see that they are marching to their own beat and writing music purely from the heart, which is more than what can be said about the bulk of bands out there today. Their feverish blend of melody and intensity is cathartic and honest sounding - a rare mix which subsequently sets them apart from their peers. Admittedly their song writing could use a bit of work as it does fall short in more than a few places with songs sacrificing their momentum in favor of blind ambition, yet despite their shortcomings the band still do manage to persevere and impress on this disc. In fact, perhaps their "war" is already over as this album is already around a year old and now only seeing a release, making it a safe bet that the evolution's and improvements they've undergone since its recording will cause their next offering to become a true pillar in the emotional metal scene and give them the recognition they richly deserve.