Post by thesoundmonitor on Feb 1, 2004 7:09:04 GMT -5
PERISH THE THOUGHT / MEANS TO AN END
When Worlds Collide Split EP
(Common Bond) CBR03
Raw and unpretentious is this split from two of Sydney’s finest hardcore outfits. And while both bands are embedded within the HC scene, they are quite disparate in delivery.
Perish The Thought is headed by Common Bond mainman Ryan Whillmott and come across as an angry Descendants with plenty of melody, albeit buried beneath a slab of aggression and screamed vocals. The structures are kept simple with a few sing-along moments for good fun.
Lyrically the quintet explore personal and global politics with ‘Second Hand Smoke’ opening with a cool sampled dialogue before Whillmott launches into a tirade of anti-smoking fury, while ‘Defective Democracy’ challenges the common belief that the Democracy we live under equates to freedom.
On the flipside (figuratively speaking), Means To An End provide a more sludged version of the HC formula drawing from such notables as Zao, Will Haven and Coalesce. Perish The Thought guitarist Chris Bischof tackles the vocal duties accentuating the archetypical community spirit the scene holds dear.
The rhythm section’s willingness to keep pace rather than compete for speed allows the dual guitar attack air to breathe and room to experiment. Tracks such as ‘Set Fire’ and ‘Make A Killing’ are fine examples of this, with the final track ‘Walk The Circle’ going all out with the aggression, sounding more like their split counterparts.
On the whole this split is indicative of what’s happening in the Sydney HC scene and as such is worthy of exploration, particularly for – but not limited to - straightedgers and politipunks.
By Warren Wheeler
Artist website: www.means-to-an-end-com
Label website: www.commonbondrecords.live.com.au
Buy this album: www.commonbondrecords.live.com.au
When Worlds Collide Split EP
(Common Bond) CBR03
Raw and unpretentious is this split from two of Sydney’s finest hardcore outfits. And while both bands are embedded within the HC scene, they are quite disparate in delivery.
Perish The Thought is headed by Common Bond mainman Ryan Whillmott and come across as an angry Descendants with plenty of melody, albeit buried beneath a slab of aggression and screamed vocals. The structures are kept simple with a few sing-along moments for good fun.
Lyrically the quintet explore personal and global politics with ‘Second Hand Smoke’ opening with a cool sampled dialogue before Whillmott launches into a tirade of anti-smoking fury, while ‘Defective Democracy’ challenges the common belief that the Democracy we live under equates to freedom.
On the flipside (figuratively speaking), Means To An End provide a more sludged version of the HC formula drawing from such notables as Zao, Will Haven and Coalesce. Perish The Thought guitarist Chris Bischof tackles the vocal duties accentuating the archetypical community spirit the scene holds dear.
The rhythm section’s willingness to keep pace rather than compete for speed allows the dual guitar attack air to breathe and room to experiment. Tracks such as ‘Set Fire’ and ‘Make A Killing’ are fine examples of this, with the final track ‘Walk The Circle’ going all out with the aggression, sounding more like their split counterparts.
On the whole this split is indicative of what’s happening in the Sydney HC scene and as such is worthy of exploration, particularly for – but not limited to - straightedgers and politipunks.
By Warren Wheeler
Artist website: www.means-to-an-end-com
Label website: www.commonbondrecords.live.com.au
Buy this album: www.commonbondrecords.live.com.au