Allegiance
Desperation
Rivalry (2007)
Do you ever buy the new album from a band you like and after a couple listens you just think, "This is about what I expected"? Most of the time this means the album is good; just more songs of the sound you've become accustomed to. This happened to me when I got Champion's full-length. I liked it, but it … Read more
Another Breath
Mill City
Rivalry (2006)
Fulton, New York's Another Breath have returned with their debut full-length, Mill City. This is their follow-up to their first offering, 2004's Not Now, Not Ever, which blasted through eight songs in just fifteen minutes. Mill City may contain nearly twice as many songs, but the album clocks in at just over thirty-five minutes. So what we have here is … Read more
Go it Alone
Histories
Rivalry (2007)
For the most part I tend to think of hardcore as the last bastion of true emotional outpouring for contemporary music. Hip hop and rap seems to be more concerned with stuff they want or stuff they are going to get. Metal either wants to bellow about goblins or how much their girlfriend sucks. Country music is a running joke … Read more
Go it Alone / Blue Monday
Split
Rivalry (2006)
I know very little of Vancouver, British Columbia other than the fact that the bulk of X-Files was filmed there and that it has the nickname of "Rain City." I may not be well versed in Canadian culture (everything I know was learned from repeated screenings of Strange Brew), but I do know that Vancouver is home to some stellar … Read more
Killing the Dream
Killing the Dream
Rivalry (2004)
Today when homosapiens talk about the old school of hardcore they usually refer somewhere between the time periods of the early 1980s and the late 1980s. But as time goes on the gap begins to get larger and the definition of new school is constantly being reinvented. Look at a band like Youth Of Today for instance, when they emerged … Read more
Red Handed
Red Handed
Rivalry (2007)
Red Handed plays fast angry hardcore with pissed off lyrics about being pissed off about being pissed off. Red Handed isn't your regular emotional hardcore output you'd expect from Rivalry. This 7" is the perfect soundtrack for drained swimming pools and grinding curbs. Void cover included. I have no idea why hardcore kids aren't talking more about this band; this … Read more
Soul Control
Involution
Rivalry (2007)
Rhode Island may be the smallest state in the union, so you would think that with them already delivering Verse, they'd be all out of good hardcore bands. Well, they are not, because Soul Control is equally as, if not more, impressive. The four-piece band delivers a modern take on 90's post-hardcore popularized by the likes of Quicksand and Burn. … Read more
Soul Control
Soul Control
Rivalry (2007)
Hardcore likes to recycle and reinvent itself about every decade, so yup, 90's hardcore is back. Soul Control sounds like every great 108 riff jammed into every wonderful Quicksand back beat. You know I just love this. Heavy melodic groove orientated hardcore done masterfully. The best thing is when hardcore bands like Soul Control decide to redo the past they … Read more
The First Step
Connection
Rivalry (2008)
My favorite revival band of the revival youth-crew bands is back with another four-song platter so I can mosh around my apartment, pointer fingers extended and with couch dives in full effect. If you have any love for fast, fun, old-school hardcore then you probably own this and your sofa has already paid the price. Seriously, go cut off some … Read more
The First Step
What We Know
Rivalry (2006)
Almost ten years ago the California hardcore band Chain of Strength asked, "Has the edge gone dull?" The edge hasn't lost any of it's sharpness but has transformed from a simple song written by teenagers in Washington D.C. in the early 80's to a positive filled jock rock by the end of the decade. The 90's itself was a scary … Read more
Time for Living
The Cheat is Not Dead
Rivalry (2003)
The Bay Area and surrounding areas must have an endless supply of hardcore bands. It seems every week I am discovering a new band from the NorCal scene. Time for Living is the latest band to receive my undivided attention, which they first peaked with their demo. With their Rival Records debut, they are going to garner attention from a … Read more
Verse
Rebuild
Rivalry (2004)
As someone who always thought What Feeds the Fire was just "okay," I was hesitant to believe all the hype surrounding Verse. However, once I actually gave them a fair chance and listened to them myself, I found what all the commotion was about. Each time I listened to their four-song demo I heard something new that I liked about … Read more
