Labels: Blood of the Young
Review by: Andy Malcolm
Only took 3 months, but at last, the first really excellent LP I’ve heard of the 2001 is in my hands. And this one has been a long time coming. I had a tape of these tracks in a rawer form from a few months back [somehow], and had been waiting for this record ever since. And now that it’s out, it certainly doesn’t disappoint.
“Our Miracle Point of Contact” is one of what’ll only be a tiny handful of records that’ll come out this year for which I’ll lazily pigeon-hole as emo. Heh. But it’s not as if the band are pointlessly rehashing Indian Summer songs or anything. Stylewise, they are more in line with bands like Native Nod. Explosive, stomach crushing hardcore, full of tense build ups, outbursts of power, and everything that’s good about this style of music. From the distressed, edge of tears vocals to the personal lyrics, to the fact that they don’t stop between songs. I love it when a band does that. Drifting from one to the other with a thread of a connection. Obvious that they are now on the next song, but not letting you pause for breath.
Notable on this record is the forceful drumming that is present on all tracks. Sometimes intricate or jazzy, sometimes just adding to the chaos at full steam ahead. Though it’s not all full on blasts, “1-2-3 Pregnant” displays a knack for the melody, and also that a standard emo lyric comes across much better in the hands of the right vocalist: “maybe I’ll forget you when I’m gone, but I doubt it” is the sort of thing that this guys imploring voice can make feel much more real.
There are so many special moments on here, it’d be futile to describe them all. The incredible twinkle breakdown and shakedown of “Making A Building” (I think, the lyrics in the insert don’t always follow the ones being sung / screamed), exploding into a crazy burst of fall on the floor screamo. Tugs at all the right strings. And that wall of guitar on “My Heart Goes Out To Me” just destroys. Leaves a wreck. “I’m so tired of dealing with you sicks! You disgust me! All of you!”
All I can tell you is that this is a fucking awesome record. And that comparisons are weak. A more aggressive, dynamite Native Nod is about as close as I can come. I guess if you just love that full on emo that sways to the groove and writhes on the floor in a mess of guitar and microphone leads, then this is the album for you. Don’t miss it.