Learn

If we at Scene Point Blank believed in short reviews I could easily wrap this up by saying, "More sweet hardcore with great breakdowns from the fine folks at Malfunction: 8.5/10" and be done with it. What else do you, the reader, really need to know?

Well let me fill you in. Providence, RI's Learn reminds me another young hardcore band from the same city that go by the name of Verse. Although Learn a bit rougher and thick-skinned than Verse, who tend to get a bit emo in their delivery. Kids cry at Verse shows but in all probability mosh their ever-loving hearts out at Learn gigs. I wouldn't even doubt if the two bands shared members.

Life and... is a vigorous hardcore assault with the requisite stellar breakdowns while still remembering that hardcore shouldn't be all about sweet "get low" parts but, also menacing and at all times in your face. However, Learn needs to completely forget the Modern Life is War epic breakdown parts which tend to drag a few tracks down on Life and…. Quite frankly, it's been done before and I find that sort of emotional outpouring where everyone in the room screams their lungs out and piles on the singer as he emotionally crumples to the floor in an overwhelmed pile of bruises, sweat, and tears comes off as hackneyed and cheesy. Yawn. I'm over it. I'd rather have a hardcore band grab me by the shirt collar and tell me to fuck off then wrap an arm around my shoulders and tell me everything is going to be okay.

If you get the CD version of Life and... you will get Learn's first 7 inch tacked on the end for good measure. These tracks show an even angrier, sloppier version of Learn. It also shows how much this band has progressed in such a short time as the newer songs show a definite development in songwriting and playing.

I like Learn even though they may not be the most innovative hardcore band out there. However what they do, they do well for the most part, and that is play excellent energetic pissed off hardcore. Also, naming your band after one of my favorite hardcore albums of all time doesn't make Learn lose any points either. Life and... is another sweet hardcore album from the fine folks at Malfunction Records.

8.5 / 10 — Jason