Labels: Dim Mak
Review by: Andy Malcolm
There seems to be a growing trend for bands to mix up screaminess with the more sensible sensibilities of the melodic emo rock genre, and the Exploder are one of the better bands I’ve heard doing this thing of late. This 6 track CDEP showcases obvious influences of bands like 12 Hour Turn and 400 Years – reminiscent in the screamy vocal style – as well as the rock influenced hardcore of Hot Water Music.
Opening track “Vicious Robot” comes replete with emo groove, dualling screamy vocals and sung backups, as well as some serious cruch in the riffage. It’s not particularly chaotic, but is certainly capable of inducing some definite swaying back and forth in the listener. Another obvious influence is Still Life, when the song breaks down into an acoustic part with strained vocals. Very nice.
“Save Your Skin” is really danceable with some chunky choruses you can do some cool hardcore dancing to, and some neat effects on the drums too at times. Clever. Tomorrow-esque “The Survivor” features lyrics that just aren’t emo at all: “I’m never gonna fall in love again”. Whilst I wouldn’t question the emo-ness of such a statement, you just can’t come out and state things with such clarity and get away with it. More obtuseness needed. How do I indicate tongue in cheekness in the written word by the way? Anyways, “Rock Machine” is aptly named with it’s full on groove supplied by a lovely thick rock riff. And “Caligula” is 12 Hour Turn to the max. Hectic and frantic, with vocals spiralling out of control. Special, and probably their most inovative of their songs on here. Meanwhile, the final song, “Like A Bullet From A Gun” is their weakest. Pretty regular hardcore that doesn’t go anywhere and has an over long finale.
So this EP is good stuff, well worth checking out if you like your screamy emo to groove (as it always should) and to be catchy also.