Hot Cross
Risk Revival
Equal Vision/Hope Division (2007)
If you consider yourself a fan of traditional screamo, you're already familiar with Hot Cross's roots. If not, no big deal. Just click your way over to Wikipedia and do a bit of research (it's worth knowing a band's origins). Risk Revival is the perfect album name for a band that lost one of its guitarists and avoided a break-up. Continuing on the path of their musical careers, Hot Cross signed to Equal Vision Records (with the likes of Fear Before the March of Flames, The Fall of Troy, and Circa Survive) imprint Hope Division Records. Hot Cross produced a much-anticipated record with a slightly different approach in comparison to their earlier releases. The first track, "Exits and Trails," starts off very quietly. You strain to hear the acoustic guitar, turning up the volume on your car stereo. A couple of seconds later, a snare drum signals an abrupt end to the lo-fi intro. The rest of "Exits and Trails" is characteristic of previous Hot Cross songs, quick riffs, unrelenting drums and Werner's passionate lyrics, though it has a certain edge to it. This track left me hopeful for the rest of Risk Revival. The next few tracks fly by … Read more
LCD Soundsystem
Sound of Silver
DFA (2007)
This is the LCD Soundsystem experience; the more you test it and the more you take a sip, the more … Read more
