Crash and Burn "The Value of Mistrust" CD
[Thorp]
Nice. This is a lot stronger than the last outing I heard from these guys, taking their brand of rock 'n' roll and injecting much more energy and character through a more varied approach that draws as much from hardcore/punk as it does from straight rock, while tossing in some angular discordance and such for an added twist. Expect tracks that average two to four minutes and throw around everything from basic power chords and quick little melodies to fiery lead breaks the likes of which you don't get to hear too often these days - definitely a little more active than your standard scales or bends or whatever, but not to the point where anything sounds like metal or anything. The vocals are mainly screamed/yelled, but there's just enough of a hint of singing underneath it all to give the dude a real edge and add some catchiness to some of the material, which if nothing else helps differentiate the band as a whole. "Tension" is shorter, faster, and much more directly hardcore oriented than much of the other material; "Fallen" is one of the only longer tracks, opening with a slow build that comes across as slightly heavier with its rhythmic surges and punchy rocked out contrasts; etc. Among the true standouts, "All for Nothing" is more melodic than the other tracks, but not blatantly, though somehow this is a fucking major success in terms of songwriting, letting up on some of the vocal aggression and coming across as far more memorable overall. Great, great work there. Similarly, "Steel Cold Grey" is slower and more developed, giving the vocals a little more of the singing tinge with a darker musical backbone that relies more heavily on the rhythm section. I could easily do without tracks like the senseless guitar instrumental "Red Menace", which is basically the only lead guitar related downfall of the entire disc (definitely hindering the overall flow of the record), but thankfully that's the only "song" that's simply not good. The recording has improved this time, too. Rather than going for somewhat of a dated sound things are loud and crisp with a well balanced mix. As is often the case I find myself wishing the bass were a little more prominent in driving the rhythm section, but the percussion sounds fine, the guitars are amply distorted without lacking an open resonance, and the vocals sound perfect. And the layout's good in my book, with a consistent color scheme, minimal imagery, a couple of live band shots, and all of the lyrics. Most of the songs are pretty straightforward, though there's nothing too incredibly blunt message-wise, despite the relatively standard tone of the contents, which I actually enjoy: "Grinding teeth fits, I'm my own Jesus, Crucified as the clock ticks by, Every noise rings like a gunshot, Body's cold but mind burns white hot." Man, this is a huge step up for these guys. I'm pretty damn impressed by how much they've grown since "Sick Again", and tracks like "All For Nothing" and "Steel Cold Grey" are just bursting with potential. Look out for these guys, they could do some serious damage down the line. (7/10)
Running time - 34:55, Tracks: 12
[Notable tracks: Tension, Fallen, All For Nothing, Steel Cold Grey]
Thorp Records - http://www.thorprecords.com

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