Labels: Anger Management
Review by: Damien Mills
So what we have here is a selection of releases from a new label based in Europe releasing mostly (but not all) European bands in the more trad hardcore style and refreshingly lacking metal, the first, or at least the first I am reviewing, is a 7″ by the band In Arm’s Reach.
The first thing that strikes you on picking this record up is the vivid, colourful artwork, courtesy of Mike Bukowski (Comeback Kid/ Stab and Kill records), if this guy doesn’t illustrate comics, he should, and if he does, well, then that is ok I guess…
The music itself is very snappy, sharp and very well produced and executed melodic hardcore and is a very satisfying listen, and encouragingly free of the Euro-core cliches and Madball-isms common to bands from this part of the world, I also really like the vocals, there’s way too any bands trying to out old skool/ Boston each other and thus the vocals often suffer from a lack of power in the delivery. Not here, they are pissed off and raging without being to flat or, alternatively, too ‘cookie monster’ which is definitely a major selling point and some more bands out there should take note
If you are “oop screamo” ’til death you wont like this, or will even dismiss it without even listening, which is lame of you, you chump, but in the words of er…Fear Factory, open minds will dominate.