Another short fuckin' EP, cranking out eight tracks in barely under 15 minutes. This is damn solid melodic hardcore with no real frills, except for maybe a little more rock than usual. It's based around the classic, driving old school style of fairly straightforward chord progressions (not too fast, not too slow), accented by melodic chords or quick little lead melodies to spice it up a bit. I wouldn't call it original, but it's not boring. The vocals are straight shouts with a throaty sort of rasp that I really like. Hell, some of the breakdowns even have a little bit of a punk rock vibe going on, especially in "Token". "Clio" is a little more melodic than the other tracks, while "Passing the Torch" uses a few thicker chords that have an interesting ring to 'em, and then "Surfacing" has a few slightly more intricate rhythms with staggered picking patterns and such that stand out a lot. I love that the songs are so brief as well, because they keep the energy level high and never drag anything out for too long. Another plus here is that the recording is fucking awesome. The drums are a little loud for as crisp as the snare is, so sometimes the hard panned guitar parts get clouded up a little, but the bass is generally evident amidst it all, so everything's generally loud and clear. The vocals sound awesome, there aren't and holes in the mix, etc. Very good for this style of hardcore, I'd say. Visually this looks great, with a really consistent use of color, black and white photos, and handwritten text. The lyrics are jam packed into a very compact format with brief song explanations as well. The song explanations are totally sincere and actually show that these guys are either taking a different spin to common issues or exploring slightly different topics altogether, boiling down to living your life for yourself and making the best out of it. "You won't find any answers if you're looking away to the person that you wish you could be. I can't justify hiding behind a masquerade. Reminding yourself that who you are doesn't matter at all." This is an awesome EP. Great songs from a sincere band that has something to say. I expect to hear a lot more from these kids. Recommended.
[Rival]
Running time - 14:54, Tracks: 8
[Notable tracks: Clio, Passing the Torch, 17 Minutes]
Rival Records - http://www.rivalrecords.net
