Labels: Solar Flare
Review by: Kunal Nandi
Once touted as being too dumb to quit, American Heritage must have got an education because they just quit. This is a total lowdown dirty shame because when it came to making noise-rocking, mathy hardcore with totally satisfying hair-whipping, duelling guitar metal gestures like Thin Lizzy crossed with Suffocation, all topped off with a broad sense of humour, the American Heritage section was the one to reach for. In fact, I don’t know who the hell else would really tick all those boxes.
On previous album “Sedentary”, the songcraft meant things got catchy and musical without stepping off the gas pedal. Sadly the practicalities of living thousands of miles apart coupled with doing this nonsense of seventeen bloody years has taken its toll, but at least they have squeezed out “Prolapse” (pun intended), which consists of six original tracks plus three very worthwhile covers (The Descendents, Black Flag and Girls Against Boys) that justifies the use of a full twelve inches.
“Prolapse” is a riff-filled juggernaut crushing all in its wake with tastefully employed time changes like Keelhaul mainlining speed. There are healthy dollops of rocking punk attitude even if it’s chopped, chewed and screwed up. Favourite moments are THAT bit in “Anxious Bedwetter” (you’ll know what I’m talking about when you hear it), the actual entirety of centrepiece track “Constant And Consuming Fear Of Death And Dying” which is a slower, simpler, more epic number that might be the best thing they’ve ever done and that Black Flag cover because it’s fucking Black Flag.
American Heritage then. Rest In Piss.