Review
The Frontline
Withstand

Grave Mistake (2005) Clarke

The Frontline – Withstand cover artwork
The Frontline – Withstand — Grave Mistake, 2005

When hardcore started it was fast, powerful and had a strong positive message. While today much of hardcore has lost its sense of positivity, The Frontline brings a great message and great music back with their debut EP, Withstand.

Frontline adds in an uplifting message without sacrificing the intensity, energy and power of the hardcore style. The lyrics speak of withstanding pain, living life one day at a time, and giving your all. Right now you're probably thinking to yourself, "This kid needs to shut up about their lyrics." Let me show you why I brought up their lyrics. Here is a sampling taken from one of their songs:

Will we ever have another chance to make up for the void in our lives?

Can we fill it with care?

Can we bind in with rope?

We must have hope!

Now you many of you may find that cheesy, but how many hardcore bands can you think of that talk about such positive things?

This band has strong influences from Chain of Strength, Insted and Youth of Today. So if you are a fan of any of these bands or any other positive hardcore band, I would give these guys a chance. They look to be one of the most promising bands in the hardcore scene right now.

8.5 / 10Clarke • July 11, 2005

The Frontline – Withstand cover artwork
The Frontline – Withstand — Grave Mistake, 2005

Recently-posted album reviews

Uranium Club

Infants Under The Bulb
Anti Fade Records, Static Shock Records (2024)

Do you take your punk with saxophone? Do you like post-angular guitars and rhythmic, near-spoken vocals? If so, Uranium Club is probably right for you. Apparently they call this egg punk nowadays. I would have called it art-punk. It definitely runs in the left-of-the-dial, DIY punk world, but has that glasses-wearing, proud-of-your-weirdness element that makes it hard to pin down … Read more

The Phase Problem

The Power Of Positive Thinking
Brassneck Records (2024)

I spent a good part of the late ‘90s annoyed at the abundance of Ramonescore. I’ll stand by my word: many of the bands of that era were carbon copies that didn’t bring anything new to the format. But time has passed and what was overdone is now a refreshing change of pace. For whatever reason, when I hear a … Read more

Totally Slow

The Darkness Intercepts
Refresh Records (2024)

I find Totally Slow a hard band to categorize. Their brand of melodic, hard punk is familiar and comforting -- rooted in ‘80s hardcore, ‘90s skatepunk, and post-something guitar-driven rock. The press release namedrops Dag Nasty and Hot Snakes, among others, which I think are good starting points. But while it’s familiar, it’s absolutely not a carbon copy. Like their forebearers, the songs … Read more