Review by Rachel Jablonski
Attention: Do not adjust your radios. Do not be alarmed, but take heed. This is not a test of the emergency broadcasting system, but rather a warning. A whirlwind of sound is fast approaching. Be prepared.
Dear Furious, the latest from Victory Record’s A18, is an aggressive, potentially enticing effort for fans of hardcore. The album begins with the loud shrill of a siren like that of a tornado warning. This ongoing noise lingers for some time until subsiding for a sharp penetrating guitar. Though the first track, “The Massive,” is very brief in length, the guitar riff within the song is inviting. With this introduction the band takes full control of the album with catchy riffs and pungent vocals. The vocals on the album are somewhat reminiscent of Jamey Jasta of the Hatebreed crew. A-18 is distinguished however by adding an individual flare to the genre.
Song construction seems to be inline with what hardcore punk is typically known for – fast paced and aggressive music, gruff vocals, and short songs. Accompanying the swerve of guitar riffs is a deep bass that is very prominent in most songs on the album. “Gravelines” is an example beginning with a profound bass riff completely in focus and leading the way into a fast paced song. Also, the addition of many sound samples, such as the siren in the first track, and many voiceovers enhances the album and entices the listener to figure out correlations between song and audio sample.
One potential hindrance to the A18 album is the tempo of the vocals. In each song the vocals tend to exactly match the rhythm of the guitar. Eventually this predictable pattern becomes rather redundant and uninteresting. Another loss of interest comes about by underdeveloped songs. “The Massive” and “Marco Polo” have much listening appeal with their alluring riffs, but due to the brevity of the songs disallowing the guitar to completely take hold, the implied promise of musical fulfillment attenuates.
A18 have a six year history under their belt through which they have completed a couple of albums, quite a few EPs, showings on MTV2, and extensive touring. If you have never before heard A18, and even if you have, beware. The band is experienced and adds their own unique flare to the genre of hardcore punk.