Why has no one heard of Stabbed by Words? A better question might be why is no one really talking about them? Seriously, when a band features members and ex-members of Unbroken, The Hope Conspiracy and The Suicide File, how can a band like this slip under the collective radar of the hardcore herd?
One reason for their relative obscurity might be that the sound that the band produces is not quite what one might expect given the previous projects of the members. Instead of a brutal metallic hardcore attack, the sound is more akin to other bands from vocalist (and former Unbroken member) Dave Claibourn's San Diego roots.
The clanging of guitars announces the beginning of "Words." This song has a similar mood and sound to that of later era-Unbroken. The guitars are much more angular sounding. The vocal delivery is impeccable and powerful. The lyrics are great:
Sometimes words just don't say enough, I say and I hope you understand what I mean. I can't always say the right things. I just hope that words are enough for you. Words can make you think that everything is fineââ¬Â¦ Words can make you feel as though you are loved.
Hearing this song and listening to his voice and what he is saying makes me glad Claibourn is singing again. "Words" is short, sweet, and packs a punch. "Tiki Doll" is killer. The vocal arrangement has an excellent rhythm to it. The music is thick and sounds good. The production fits the music well. There is a cool little stuttered rhythm part that breaks the song up nicely. An excellent sample signals the start of "Growth Curve." It asks, "...which is the most universal human characteristic, fear or laziness?" I like the premise of the song's lyrics. "If this is one world, we are trapped. If this is one world, maybe we should listen. If this is one world, it seems we're fucked." Basically, the song tackles the explosion of the world's population and how people ignore the warnings.
With the music sounding like a more beefed up and sped up Drive Like Jehu song and the lyrics and overall delivery, "Growth Curve" really stands out for me. "Sing Sing" is a quick burst of energy, kind of like an energy drink delivered in a song. That is the type of attack the track utilizes. "Untitled" is a much more reserved affair. It is an instrumental that seems to serve as an intermission. But, it contains serious emotion in the music that flows seamlessly into "Train Wreck Love." This song is different. It is a duet, but not in the cheesy love song way. Actually, it is strangely the opposite; the lyrics fit the disaffected vocal delivery of both vocalists in an extremely eerie manner and the content is disturbingly refreshing. It kind of speaks volumes of truth and not in the usual whiny break up song way.
Stabbed by Words offers a cohesive album that cooks as it progresses from one song to another. It is both nostalgic and progressive at the same time. The nostalgia can be attributed to Claibourn's lyric writing still being as efficacious as ever and that brings the wit and deprecation of early to mid-nineties hardcore. The progressive forward looking aspect is brought to the table by the music; it is not what one would normally think would come out of a hardcore band. This self-titled album is excellent. Do not sleep on this record like I did. If you are a fan of good hardcore punk, this should be up your alley.
