Oh looksie, another neo-hardcore punk band trying to do retro hardcore punk, and failing. This is one incredibly bland album. You can imagine the flaccidly-clenched fist raised doggedly in the air while the singer mutters their unconvincing anthems into the microphone. This album is put to death by the music that not only have we heard before, but that doesn’t even sound excited as it attempts to ape its betters. That approach sometimes works wonderfully, but certainly does not in this case. The production here is probably one of my least favorite aspects. Everything just sounds flat and bored. Level 2 Scapegoat is the only song with which the band really shows any potential in songwriting, but even then it sounds nothing like the “old school HxC” they argue they’re inspired by. This album should be avoided.

Published in Volume 64, Number 19 of The Uniter (February 11, 2010)