The artwork could have one expecting something a bit crustier or noisier, but this band plays straightforward hardcore/punk in short bursts that reminds me as much of Black Flag as it does Discharge or Aus-Rotten (but their sound is not at all limited to such styles). Of course it's not as uncontrolled or caustic as Black Flag or anything like that, but certain aspects sort of lean in that direction. But the performance is really tight and the unfettered yelling is the perfect match for the music. "The Last Starve" is a bit more energetic than some of the other songs, dropping some awesome vocal tradeoffs, and there are some slower and darker (but not metal) riffs in tracks like "Indigent" and especially the dissonant "Fantasies of Success". There's not a great deal of diversity here, but just enough nuances pop up to keep things from all sounding like a blur. The recording sounds fine for what they're doing. Everything is pretty dry, and I think the guitar tone could have some more depth, but the rhythm section sounds fine, and the mix is even enough. The CD also includes the tracks from the band's debut 7", which aren't really different from the new material at all, there's just a slightly more textured and raw sound going on. The layout is all black and white, done with high contrast graphics, and printed on matte paper. It looks very nice, even for sticking to the standard hardcore/punk aesthetic. The tracklist is wrong, though. Some of the songs are listed in the wrong order, but if you read along with the lyrics you can figure out where you are. I love the lyrics. Most of the songs have lengthier than normal content that deals with everything from personal issues to, of course, political attacks, and a mix of the two styles. But I'm definitely into their approach. Hell, the opening lines of the record set the tone perfectly: "Look around, can you see? Cancerous lies, the pollution we call humanity. Take a look around, tell me what you see? The lies you've been led to believe are now the nightmares of reality..." Good stuff. It's ever so slightly boring to some degree, but the total running time is brief and the band definitely has a strong attack going on. Worth checking out if you're into traditional, aggressive hardcore/punk with a message.
[Prank]
Running time - 29:57, Tracks: 14
[Notable tracks: Accuser, The Last Starve, Fantasies of Success, No One Gets Out Alive]
Prank Records - http://www.prankrecords.com
