Sunday, April 18, 2010
SICK OF IT ALLBased on a True Story
Century Media Records
What can be said of the godfathers of New York Hardcore that hasn't been said already?
They continue to pump out great music, tour tenaciously and be relevant in an industry that is ever changing. And how do they do it you ask? Its a pretty simple formula of taking what they do well and improving on it time after time. I don't think I've ever heard songs written in a way that EVERYONE can relate to them better than these guys. Vocalist, Lou Koller is by far, one of the best, if not THE best frontman out there, and he is backed by the best hardcore musical unit to date. But enough of the man-love I have for these guys, let's get to the album.
If I had to compare this album to any of their previous releases, it would be close to Scratch the Surface and Built to Last. Its got a lot to like. Old school sound. Gang vocals. Excellent breakdowns. Its sure to score big in pits everywhere. On some tracks they seem to embrace what they are. A pioneering New York Hardcore outfit (i.e. A Month of Sundays). Unfortunately, hardcore music has the
possibility of getting monotonous as many bands have songs that just sound similar and blend right into each other with their sound and message. I mean if i had a dollar for every "My friend stabbed me in the back" hardcore song I've ever heard, I'd be a rich man. As I said before, SOIA has always had the ability to take what they do well, and make it even better. That ability alone sets this album apart from any previous releases and cements itself as one of their best to date.
TOP TRACKS: Lowest Common Denominator is by far my favorite track. The Divide may be one of the heaviest SOIA songs ever. Bent Outta Shape is a real bruiser. Long As She's Standing...I can't wait to sing along to.
FINAL VERDICT: Sick of It All has cemented themselves as the mainstays to what was once a dying genre. Hardcore goes through various stages of ups and downs. I've never seen these guys take a break or get tired of making music and it wouldn't be nuts to say they probably never will. Ask many of these bands today who inspired them and Sick of It All would be on that list 9 out of 10 times.
RATING: 5/5
CANCER BATSBears, Mayors, Scraps & Bones
Distort Entertainment
In 2008, a Canadian band named the Cancer Bats released their second full length album entitled Hail Destroyer. That album went on to win the WD SYNDICATE's album of the year and its still on a steady rotation in our office. Suffice to say I was beyond excited when I learned of the release of Bears, mayors, Scraps & Bones. And if you think I'm re-typing that throughout this review, you should suck on some 9mm ammo. Cancer Bats are an odd mix of hardcore, metal and southern sludge rock (even though they are from the great White North). Wherever you want to place them on the genre scale, one thing is for sure. You can call them metal. You can call them hardcore. You can also just call them downright fucking awesome. Once again CB steps on the gas and just doesn't let up. The album plays out like a disaster movie and keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout. Each track you say to yourself, "okay that last one was sick, they can't do it again, can they?" The answer to that question can be met with a very Obama-like "YES THEY CAN!"
The album has some intense breakdowns. Vocalist, Liam Cormier, is the Energizer Bunny and keeps up with the tempo the band sets. The guitar work is beautifully orchestrated by Scott Middleton. He throws in the ever so subtle southern sludge rock riff every so often that makes me think I'm from Kentucky. I don't like dissecting the members of the band and critiquing their work. To me a band is a team effort working to make one, awesome sound. Its obvious Cancer Bats get a lot of practice because whatever they do, it just works. Speaking of making things work, not many bands can get away with closing an album with a cover song. Matter of fact, most bands screw cover songs up and many people out there see cover songs as a lack of imagination. I'd like to take those people and have them run into a knife repeatedly. Cancer Bat's cover of the Beastie Boys' Sabotage is probably one of the best cover songs ever recorded.
TOP TRACKS: Scared to Death (I foresee this becoming the most played song in my ipod in the coming months), Sleep This Away, Fake Gold, Dead Wrong, Snake Mountain and Raised Right.
FINAL VERDICT: Looks like every two years we'll be treated to a great Cancer bats release!
RATING: 5/5
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