Post by thesoundmonitor on Jan 11, 2004 5:16:05 GMT -5
BLACK CROSS
Art Offensive
(Equal Vision) EVR81
The artists formerly known as Black Widows have returned post ‘cease & desist’ orders to offer up one high quality piece of screamo hardcore.
Drawing from DC hardcore and mathrock equally, Black Cross come across like a harsher, thinking-man’s Sick Of It All, and from word dot, this album screams with energy and passion relenting only after it’s 26 minutes of fame is up.
Though not entirely varied, the band refuses to be monotonic and narrow, tilting from the frantic opening of the title track to the darker, more atmospheric ‘Gift to the Sea’, while ‘Commercial Break’ utilizes gang choruses and draws from the more classic example of Dead Kennedys and Black Flag.
Perhaps the bands’ biggest letdown is Rob Penington’s one-dimensional approach. Yet buried beneath the chaotic and frenzied rhythmic attack one can discover distant melodies seeking to find a way out: a point most evident on ‘Plank Walker’.
Complete with nice packaging (gold gloss on brown), Black Cross’ half hour explosion is confronting if not enticing.
By Warren Wheeler
Artist website: www.black-cross.com
Label webiste: www.equalvision.com
Buy this album:
Art Offensive
(Equal Vision) EVR81
The artists formerly known as Black Widows have returned post ‘cease & desist’ orders to offer up one high quality piece of screamo hardcore.
Drawing from DC hardcore and mathrock equally, Black Cross come across like a harsher, thinking-man’s Sick Of It All, and from word dot, this album screams with energy and passion relenting only after it’s 26 minutes of fame is up.
Though not entirely varied, the band refuses to be monotonic and narrow, tilting from the frantic opening of the title track to the darker, more atmospheric ‘Gift to the Sea’, while ‘Commercial Break’ utilizes gang choruses and draws from the more classic example of Dead Kennedys and Black Flag.
Perhaps the bands’ biggest letdown is Rob Penington’s one-dimensional approach. Yet buried beneath the chaotic and frenzied rhythmic attack one can discover distant melodies seeking to find a way out: a point most evident on ‘Plank Walker’.
Complete with nice packaging (gold gloss on brown), Black Cross’ half hour explosion is confronting if not enticing.
By Warren Wheeler
Artist website: www.black-cross.com
Label webiste: www.equalvision.com
Buy this album: