"Benton Falls does a great job of building it up and breaking it down on their second full-length, Guilt Beats Hate. 40 minutes of constant tempo changes done with machine-like accuracy, each song could be compared to a book containing many chapters. Indeed, Benton Falls doesn't subscribe to any simple musical cadre. For the most part, their game plan seems to be a quiet beginning, a steady escalation that invariably explodes into something loud and destructive, followed closely by an anything-goes brand of performance. Benton Falls has crafted an effort that simultaneously challenges the listener and quenches the thirst of anyone looking for solid and inventive rock music." - Journal Review

"Guilt Beats Hate from Benton Falls rocks, plain and simple. My first impression of this record was 'wow, this is loud.' I assumed there was at least two guitar players. I was wrong. Singer Michael Richardson covers all guitar duties, and this guy can shred. The sheer power brought forth by his six-string puts me in awe at times. Knowing that he does all the singing and occasional screaming only makes me hold his talent in a higher regard. Richardson's voice is unique and his tone strikes a familiarity within me. For comparison sake, think of the intensity of Planes Mistaken For Stars coupled with the creativity of the Appleseed Cast. Guilt Beats Hate is one of the diamonds you should try to discover." - Punknews

"What an impressive record from Benton Falls. Their latest, Guilt Beats Hate, is state of the art in combining straightness and complexity. Every instrument seems to reside in an universe of its own and Michael Richardson's vocals embrace everything from passionate screaming to the most sensitive melodies. It's exciting to observe the technical ingenuity. Guilt Beats Hate has a penetrating atmosphere captured in convincing songwriting and an excellent production. What more do you need?" - Enough

"Nothing could prepare me for Benton Falls' latest, Guilt Beats Hate. From the very first track, this album is intense and explosive, yet every song reaches out like a gentle, reassuring pat on the shoulder. It has everything; crushing guitars that leap into wild variations and then dive into soft plucking, vicious screams and an intensity that dares not let up. Every track is like a dark car ride; no one knows where they're going except the driver. Guitars and drums beat incessantly, building up to the point of no return and then cascading down with a burst and blast of energy. Benton Falls stands apart from their contemporaries by their sheer willingness to make music that sounds at once caring and hopeless. We live in an era of ambivalence, wanting to change our ways without altering our standard of living. Benton Falls reflect these thoughts with style and grace." - Pirate Nun

"Benton Falls have found their sound, and it's all so right as I listen to Guilt Beat Hate for the umpteenth time today. Their sound has been refined, improved and given a lot of more oomph. Benton Falls takes the blueprint of impassioned indie-rock and adds thick, loud riffs, pounding drums, tempo changes and screaming / soaring vocals to quite an inspirational effect. Within 30 seconds I just know I'm going to love it. It's a fine testament to Benton Falls that the quality on Guilt Beats Hate is high from start to finish, and yet there is still space for stand out songs and moments. This album will appeal to everyone with Deep Elm records in their collection, but this will also appeal to people everywhere who aren't familiar, proving quality music prevails in the end over preconceived ideas, which has to be a good thing." - Collective

"It's the subtleties on Guilt Beats Hate that set Benton Falls apart from the rank amateurs and derivative hacks. Racing, punk-informed passages distinguish them from traditional slash 'n' crash post-hardcore bands while the guitar riffs during the verses are quite creative, escalating the tension of the rhythm section. The screaming never becomes a trite way of making a chorus more emotional, but instead sounds like a natural eruption, akin to Jeremy Enigk's more angsty moments on Sunny Day Real Estate's Diary. Guilt Beats Hate is one of those albums that breeds a special attachment. Benton Falls knows the dynamic of a powerful song, and their heartstring plucking heroics lend meaning to the oft-maligned emo tag." - Splendid

"Guilt Beats Hate from Benton Falls brings to mind everything that has ever been right about emo. The band showcases multiple takes on the genre, somehow melding them all together into one amazing album. The songs are very well put together, as delicate guitars build into powerful, moving swells of sweeping chords. The real catalyst is Michael Richardson's voice, which carries a deep resonance that gives these lyrics a grounded sense of reality. The best moments come when the band lets the violently maladjusted discontent flow like water through a faucet. I can honestly say that this record completely blew me away; the drums are methodic and powerful, the bass pulses deeply in all the right spots, and Richardson's guitars just rule the universe. Guilt Beats Hate is recommended to the highest degree, and then maybe even a step or two higher than that." - Delusions Of Adequacy

"Guilt Beats Hate from Benton Falls reminds me of the days where bands like Mineral, Christie Front Drive and Sunny Day Real Estate were ruling the post punk world and musicianship and musical content were valued over rotation on MTV2 and a spot on the cover of Spin Magazine. With tracks like This House Call Could Kill, The Race To Die and There's No F In Team, the band creates solid dynamic songs that teeter between beautiful melody and full-on rage. I haven't heard dynamic guitar work like this since Ethel Meserve. Guilt Beats Hate is definitely for anyone who remembers what post-punk sounded like when it meant something." - Bettawreckonize

"On Guilt Beats Hate, it's immediately apparent that Benton Falls has turned it up a notch with this release, as the first few tracks hammer hard with a thick, buzzing guitar sound and crisp, pointed drumming. Michael Richardson's vocals are readily familiar, and given their deep range and soaring possibilities, it seems like the band has expanded its sound just to accompany the greater power that Richardson exudes. Listening to this Guilt Beats Hate on a pair of high-quality headphones is intoxicating." - Pastepunk

"Guilt Beats Hate from Benton Falls is one of those rare records that reaches the listener on every level. Musically, the guitar driven sound is both melodic and unpolished to create uniquely abrasive melodies. These intricacies in the sound, the slight hints of rawness and the sudden bursts of distortion serve as the perfect backdrop for the melancholy vocals of Michael Richardson, which explode in the midst of distorted guitar riffs with pained screams as they paint a chaotic picture of life on the brink of self-destruction. The lyrics are brutal in their honesty and deal in despair, depression and dismay, but never seek sympathy or try to drag you down to wallow along. Rather the songs are introspective poetic musings and self-healing through writing which carry a sense of redemption through music. In the end, Guilt Beats Hate is a strong collection of extremely personal songs dealing with the stark realizations on coming of age. Honest, exquisite, intense and so very true, Guilt Beats Hate is one of the finest releases in the Deep Elm catalog...no small feat." - Punk Rock Reviews

"Benton Falls needs to be known. On Guilt Beats Hate, Michael Richardson takes his memorable vocals and layers them on many tracks with a sharp screaming back-up vocal that accentuates the harshness and raw feelings behind many of these lyrics. Musically, it works with a guitar-fronted sound reminiscent of Cursive or Cross My Heart, with some math rock-influenced time changes and occasional screamed vocals to boot. The lyrics are exceptionally honest and poignant, revealing a stark depression that exists in Richardson's mind. Guilt Beats Hate ranks up there as one of the most brutally honest and painful albums which Deep Elm has released; not for any aesthetic reasons, but because the lyrics seemingly describe someone truly in the thick of life's battles. Despondent? Yes. Melancholic? Yes. Best record ever on Deep Elm? Pretty close." - Action Attack Helicopter

This Housecall Could Kill i'm crying for help i'm calling all cars you're recalling all scars i'm diving for truth i'm in over my head but you're lying prescribe me something to get me through this is this coincidence - i've lost my innocence oh, is this over will this ever end my friends have turn and run i'm back in your office on your couch again where my problems once begun oh, is this over will this ever end one last time what's so wrong what's so bad about feeling down, right now maybe you're right i can't say i'm fine now, lay down tell me everything, tell me why i feel bad housecalls are never free The Race To Die we've waged this war since birth to cover up this earth with houses and roads now everything must grow expansion is our goal (extinction is our goal) now bolt these houses down plant these children in the ground now drive to work with blinders on where everyone has got two jobs and four kids and three cars and one boat everyone's chasing the same fucking thing raise your head and brace yourself (raise your head you're someone else) now cry yourself to sleep upon your king size bed, with silk sheets credit buys you everything except love, except life, except this everyone's chasing the same fucking thing Bitter By Choice try as you will you can't escape your past given everything you ever wanted i never will understand your life well not this time have you ever had to fight for anything mother pays your rent and daddy bought your car with the money that they've spent it sure did get you far what's your life when everything is so fake what's your life you're an expert on everything you're so fake everything is just a game Trail And Terror cover yourself with everything you can just to walk outside buried inside, an artificial tan with everything to hide positive this can't be right well january's cold and february's colder but i can't stand to hold her anymore and now that i am older i wish that i had told her cut yourself free please abandon me before things get really bad don't blame yourself for my curiosity i swear it's not your fault a trial and error tragedy with these bitter tears i swear they're filled with salt positive this can't be right Angel On Hiatus it's come to this i swear this time my heart won't miss i've clinched these fists for far too long a broken house with gates made from broken promises but nobody's home so here i sit it's the light that wakes me but the time that breaks me down like water drops, why won't this stop dripping on my halo these angel wings of mine they haven't seen the light in weeks let alone fly it's the light that wakes me but the time that breaks me down like water drops, why won't this stop it's got me down and who's gonna save me from falling to the ground you might as well finish me grab with both hands and rip out these wings now watch me fall Like Portaits On Walls this guilt hangs around your neck like portraits on walls but i swear i can't recall the last time i saw you smile it's been a while run away, cause this makes no sense with hollow hands kissed by hollow lips run away, cause you've seen him cry you've cut apart his heart with your knife hollow, hollow, hollow, just like you're pretty, pretty, now breath now i've said too much again with hollow lips touching hollow hands over time this will end oh, is this wrong we knew this all along sometimes my life has got me down but guilt beats hate and you turn it all around sometimes my life has got me down but guilt beats hate, now you've won There's No "F" In Team michael, is this where you run is it my fault am i the reason you're gone expect one thing from you, and you fail time flies, when you're having fun but my clock stopped when my hand dropped from yours and you were gone expect one thing from you, the time you stole Defining The Warm-Up i'm scratching my eyes out trying to find you it's tearing my heart apart just waiting here i'm passing your house by with no answer it's tearing me limb from limb to not have you here but i can still smell you on my pillow case but just in case you have forgot, well i have not you thought you made an impact but i'm packed and gone you'll wait until i'm gone you'll follow him around the world passing you passing me pass on well pass me by and one time, i'll find the time to define this warm-up Beneath the Ashes And Lies cover it up don't say a word to anyone surprise surprise you've been handed more lies the press but i confess i've covered my eyes the same as you your eyes your eyes they've been fooled by the television so tell me whose fault when planes fall when trains derail when hospitals call it's out of our hands tell me who in the hell will account for this Broken Frame (instrumental)