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 FOUR YEAR STRONG – Rise Or Die Trying
(I Surrender Records/Shock)
Who Goes There?: Beard-wearing Americans crossing pop-punk with breakdown-based hardcore.
How Goes It?: Sure, it sounds a little far-fetched, but the above-mentioned bastardization of genres has many ups, with just a few downs. Rise Or Die Trying has everything from synths and catchy-as-hell choruses to heavier-than-thou breakdowns and metal riffs. While every song turns on a dime musically between these elements, the vocals tend to give one pause, sounding at times a little too Panic At The Disco-esque, and thus slightly dampening the effect of this otherwise interesting release.
Sounds Like: A Wilhelm Scream / Fall Out Boy / Andrew WK
***
 BLACK LUNGS – Send Flowers
(Dine Alone/Shock)
Who Goes There?: Following Dallas Green’s lead, Alexisonfire comrade Wade MacNeil branches out into the folk-rock world.
How Goes It?: With a gravelly voice that grows upon the listener exponentially, Wade MacNeil shows that he too can write introspective songs with a dash of pop sensibilities. Black Lungs merges the catchy elements of Alexisonfire and juxtaposes them against rocking guitars, piano and drums that have more in common with the Police, Billy Bragg and Ted Leo than anything remotely hardcore.
Sounds Like: Billy Bragg / Against Me / Loved Ones
***½
 THE SEDUCTION – Betrayed
(Trial & Error)
Who Goes There?: Four Melbourne kids with an impressive pedigree, shredding ear-drums like it was going out of fashion.
How Goes it?: Featuring ex-members of In Name And Blood and The Jonestown Syndicate, The Seduction play hardcore that sits right at the metal end of the spectrum – only coming up for air to add some southern-rock style riffage before delving back into the abrasive depths of technical-hardcore. For fans of hardcore and metal alike, it probably doesn’t get much better. Hot Diggity!
Sounds Like: Converge / Everytime I Die / newer Dillinger Escape Plan
****
 THE BANNER – Frailty
(Ferret/Stomp)
Who Goes There?: New Jersey metallers return with their sophomore effort on Ferret Records.
How Goes It?: Ok, this is some dark and dirty stuff right here. While it could be said that the music itself isn’t all that original (hardcore), the underlying attitude of despair and anger is helped along beautifully by top-class production – extracting ing the darkness of the devil himself from the band’s sound – and the gut-wrenching screams of vocalist Joey Southside, which sound like the death-cry of an elephant. Is it getting cold in here?
Sounds Like: The Chariot / Converge / The Black Dahlia Murder
***
 H2O – Nothing To Prove
(Bridge Nine Records)
Who Goes There?: Hailing from New York, H20 have been playing hardcore longer than most teenagers have been alive.
How Goes It?: H20 play positive, straight-edge hardcore. They play it well and have done so forever. Thus, they have nothing to prove, hence the title. Thankfully this statement is correct and H20 are still able to rock a hardcore sound that leans heavily on their punk roots, while still singing about their favourite themes of straight-edge, the scene, solidarity and having heart. It’s like 1995 all over again!
Sounds Like: Shelter / Just Say Go / Gorilla Biscuits
***½
PATRICK PERRIER
If you want to see the name of your band’s release in slightly pixilated black ink accompanied by an honest opinion, Scale Models is the place for you! Send CDs and miscellaneous bribery to Patrick Perrier c/o RAVE Magazine, PO Box 802, Stones Corner, QLD, 4120.
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