This quick split drops three tracks each from these two similar metallic hardcore acts, doing the whole alternating songs deal rather than grouping them by band, so Pennsylvania's Problem Solver Revolver takes the odd-numbered songs and Australia's Shot Point Blank handles the even-numbered half. Problem Solver Revolver's style is heavy hardcore with a little added metal and strained shouting in the vocal department. Their material is a touch faster than Shot Point Blank's, which is a bit more straightforward - keeping the metal edge to chunky chord progressions and plenty of vicious breakdowns, but refraining from bringing in any real melody or added metal to the guitar playing like they're doing these days. Even this earlier version of "Bleeding Hearts and Pounding Fists" comes across as heavier. I prefer Shot Point Blank's songwriting to Problem Solver Revolver's just a bit, though really they are a great match for this split since they sound pretty close to one another in the grand scheme of things. Both bands have adequate but slightly flat recordings that get the job done but need a little added clarity and push to really kick ass. There are no major problems to cite, things sound pretty consistent with one another for the most part, but brighter highs and smoother lows and all that would definitely kick things up a little. The layout keeps it simple with the lyrics, a few band photos, and imagery that makes things out to look like a police case file or whatever. Problem Solver Revolver's lyrics range from scene oriented to hints at socio-political content to one song that's more of a hardass sort of thing; while Shot Point Blank, aside from one "stabbed in the back" type of deal, is a little more hopeful, as on their full-length, dealing with personal topics and kind of having hints of encouragement without being "posi" or anything like that. Shot Point Blank definitely progressed after this split, and I'd need to hear more from Problem Solver Revolver to get a better feel for what the have to offer, but this is a decent disc. Damn short, though!
[Surprise Attack]
Running time - 16:15, Tracks: 6
[Notable tracks: Not Quite Hell, Saving Grace, Bleeding Hearts and Pounding Fists]
Surprise Attack Records - http://www.surpriseattackrecords.com
