AllegianceI can't remember the last time I got a release from Rivalry and was disappointed. Come to think of it, I don't think I ever was. Well, here we are with another quality release from one of the best straight up hardcore labels around. This is the sophomore full length from these San Francisco natives. During their lifetime as a band they have released a demo, a self titled EP, split with Internal Affairs, and their previous full length "Overlooked".
There are eleven songs of straight ahead hardcore that totals around 20 minutes of music. The bulk of the songs remain under the 2 minute mark with the exception of three, the longest being the track, "The Desperation" which is a little over 3 minutes. This album is a little more "basic" or stripped down if you will, than their previous full length, honestly this album sounds like Terror and Madball decided to become edge and form with a new name. I mean the opening riff in "If Its Just Words" sounds like it was straight up jacked from Terror "One With The Underdogs".
Not only has the band changed their direction but lyrically as well. There isn't nearly as much straight edge anthems as their previous material rather more songs about the heartache of hitting a point in your life where all you can think is "What's next?". Granted there are some straight edge songs like, like the opening track "Another Wave" but it's a far cry from a song like "Exhale" (which is an awesome fucking song by the way, since I quit smoking a year back it's a source of inspiration).
This album was recorded by Roger Tschann over at Grizzly Studios (Lights Out!, Look Back and Laugh and Never Healed). The album sounds as meaty as a Polish maid during Oktoberfest, the guitar tone is packed with distortion, the bass tone can be heard steadily through the album with its cutting twang sound and the drums have a nice dense tone. The vocals have a slight distortion on them which works nicely with the high pitched delivery of the vocalist.
I hate to keep coming back to Terror because shit, that name probably gets used just as much if not more than Madball and Hatebreed when trying to make a reference to a band but even the layout and the colors remind me of Terror. With that said, the layout (which was done by Scott Magrath) does look quite good, nothing stunning but it's put together well. The booklet is pretty husky, it's only six pages but the vinyl gloss used is thick (more labels should use this type of gloss). On each page there's some lyrics to a couple of songs with a picture of the band member by themselves and then live.
Rating: 3/5
Songs Worthy of Replay: Taking It Back, The Desperation and Out of My Blood
Synopsis: Solid listen, good band and I'm sure they put on a hell of a show but while this album is better than most bands trying to ride the wave of Terror and Madball's success, this album just doesn't have enough to stand on it's own two feet against the "heavyweights". It's not an album that you'll be disappointed you bought, you just won't be dying to put it on every couple of weeks. Check out the label for ordering information and other good shit: Click Here. And check out some songs over at the band's Myspace.