Crime In Stereo - Explosives And The Will To Use Them
This is a smoking debut from these East Coast hardcore kids. The surprising thing is how much different this is from so much of the East Coast hardcore. It's certainly fast but there's no big NYHC breakdowns or metallic Jersey mosh riffs or even a ton of gang vocals. Really this shares more in common with a lot of the post hardcore bands like Hot Water Music that use dueling lead guitars and dynamic song structures to propel the songs forward rather than straight power
chords. This may run afoul of some purists but their approach is really refreshing and shows how a musical offshoot can ultimately influence the original genre in a positive way.
So what makes these guys hardcore? Really it's their dedication to speed and shouted vocals which are eerily reminiscent of the higher pitched singer in The Thumbs. Their speed is mainly delivered through some impressive drumming that not only follows the convention of hardcore bands before them when appropriate but has plenty of room to expand into tons of different beats thanks to the varied songwriting presented here. He also has a particularly effective continuous bass drum sound that really keeps the drive going when the guitars are off doing their dual lead riffing.
Even when they're not punching it they still really deliver a compelling experience. An example of this can be found on the mid-paced track "Play It Loud Fuckers" which is chock full of tasty riffs, varied tempos and heartfelt vocals that equal the passion found in their faster work. Still, this band is at their best at higher speeds as evidenced by the opening songs and cuts like "It Ain't All Hugs And Handshakes". The combo of aggressive drumming, intricate lead guitar work and spirited vocals put these guys in the top ranks of melodic hardcore and this is only their first album. This is definitely the band to watch going forward.
So what makes these guys hardcore? Really it's their dedication to speed and shouted vocals which are eerily reminiscent of the higher pitched singer in The Thumbs. Their speed is mainly delivered through some impressive drumming that not only follows the convention of hardcore bands before them when appropriate but has plenty of room to expand into tons of different beats thanks to the varied songwriting presented here. He also has a particularly effective continuous bass drum sound that really keeps the drive going when the guitars are off doing their dual lead riffing.
Even when they're not punching it they still really deliver a compelling experience. An example of this can be found on the mid-paced track "Play It Loud Fuckers" which is chock full of tasty riffs, varied tempos and heartfelt vocals that equal the passion found in their faster work. Still, this band is at their best at higher speeds as evidenced by the opening songs and cuts like "It Ain't All Hugs And Handshakes". The combo of aggressive drumming, intricate lead guitar work and spirited vocals put these guys in the top ranks of melodic hardcore and this is only their first album. This is definitely the band to watch going forward.
