Labels: Crime Scene
Review by: Kunal Nandi
Look up “barnstorming” in the dictionary. You’ll find this.
Without a doubt, this ranks up there with Narcosis’ “Heart Slows Down”, Dead Inside’s “No. 4″ and Shank’s “Coded 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.