Boxed In - s/t - LP (2004)

Labels: Crime Scene
Review by: Kunal Nandi

Look up “œbarnstorming” in the dictionary. You’ll find this.

Without a doubt, this ranks up there with Narcosis’ “œHeart Slows Down”, Dead Inside’s “œNo. 4″ and Shank’s “œCoded Messages In Slowed Down Songs” as one of THE classic albums of modern UK hardcore. Thirteen songs rocket by in eighteen minutes with virtually no let up between tracks, although you do get a reprieve halfway through thanks to automatic record-flipping turntables not being in widespread use yet. It’s far from a complete barrage of noise though, with panic-fuelled guitars tossing out tunes that are harsh as fuck whilst still retaining hummability, without resorting to cheap shot major-chord breakdown tactics. How do (good) bands do that? It’s fucking clever. Also, this arguably simplistic style of music doesn’t really demand a lengthy attention span, but this works totally throughout. It could twice as long as far as I am concerned. The production is perfectly suited, i.e. rougher than a hedgehog’s arse. Incredibly, they’re even better live, or they were when I saw them. Nick’s vocals were much louder, and had a real sting to them. Maybe he had a cold. Get this yesterday.