Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for Snapcase - Designs for Automotion (2000)

Throughout part of my life, I feel in some ways connected to alt-metal and The Gateway, then I end up disconnected from that genre and clan because I'm just not feeling it anymore. Every once in a while though, a solid alt-metal offering comes along and hits me in the face. Such is the case for this Snapcase album...

Their third album Designs for Automotion was made as a follow-up to the critically acclaimed Progression Through Unlearning from 3 years prior. Vocalist Daryl Taberski continues his macho yet high screams. In fact, a lot of the sound here is aggressive, though here they have more of a hardcore/alt-metal sound. The rage also comes from Timothy Redmond's drumming, particularly in the hardcore "tin-can" snare that's actually a lot more tolerable than the one used in Metallica's St. Anger.

Already giving us the best of this offering is "Target". It doesn't have the same punch as the opening track for Progression Through Unlearning, but it's still heavy as b*lls. "Disconnector" sounds the experimentation of OLD given a mainstream turn. Interesting glitchy effect at the end. "Bleeding Orange" has more of that hardcore drumming.

Bouncing through in the intro is "Typecast Modulator" which cranks up the hardcore heaviness while being mainstream enough to have its own music video. Are you tuned in for "Are You Tuned In?" Maybe not for me. This may remind some heavily of a later band, Turnstile. "Twentieth Nervous Breakdown" (I almost typed that as "Twentieth Century Breakdown", thinking of Green Day much?) is another awesome rocker. The more repetitive "Energy Dome" isn't too bad when Taberski continues to scream his lungs out alongside the usual blazing riffing.

"Ambition Now" is more ambitious and f***ing underrated. This may have planted the seed for Vision of Disorder taking on a similar style the following year. "Break the Static" is an influential classic. Where would some metal/hardcore bands be without it!?! "Blemish" is pretty great despite having some blemishes. "Box Seat" still has the album's sound but a bit of the sludgy mathcore of Knut and Botch has bled in.

Designs for Automotion is literally exactly a year younger than me, released on January 25, 2000. I bet the earlier-born millennials were having fun listening to this while skateboarding. Whereas over 25 years later, I can enjoy this while chilling at home. And I'm sure the same can be done by other music listeners out there.....

Favorites: "Target", "Bleeding Orange", "Typecast Modulator", "Twentieth Nervous Breakdown", "Ambition Now", "Break the Static"