This is the first time I've heard Breaker Breaker, hailing from the sunny land of California, and I think they've already broken up? If so, that's a god damn shame, because this brief EP kicks out just over 11 minutes of rockin' hardcore/punk with a great balance of the old and the new. The songs are all short, and the arrangements tend to rely mostly on old school hardcore stylings, but there's also a little bit of a heavier punch at times, as well as a slightly melodic punk influence on rare occasion. The vocals are also raspy screams that definitely have a more modern feel. I don't know, they're not original but they somehow have a sound that's sort of unique, and I'm really digging it. Apparently they were a straightedge band, but you wouldn't know it by seeing the record or listening to the songs, so it's cool that they weren't overbearing about that aspect of the band's stance. The recording is fine by me. The drums are warm and natural, the bass tone fucking rules, the guitars are heavy without being muddy or anything like that, and I really like the placement of the vocals. The levels peak to light distortion on occasion, which can be bothersome... I don't know if that's a mastering issue or what. It's not a huge deal but it can be distracting, though thankfully the mix sounds tight enough to overlook that one minor issue. The layout is very simple and somewhat uninformative, but at least it looks good. There are two color photos of beach landscapes, one black and white band photo, and that's about it. No lyrics, very little extraneous information, etc. The tracklist is on the back, and the inner booklet is mostly blank white, but the tracklist repeats along with some contact information and stuff. In fact most of the package is white, because the CD tray is also opaque white, and the disc face has a white circle printed in the middle with clear edges and some gray textures over top. Oh, and everything is printed on matte paper. You know I love that! But anyway, this is a great EP. It's a shame the band broke up so quickly, as far too many bands do... Oh well. If you're into real hardcore and want a brief yet refreshing listen, check this one out.
[Martyr]
Running time - 11:25, Tracks: 6
[Notable tracks: Midnight, Exchange Street, Sound Check #2]
Martyr Records - http://www.martyrrecords.com
