Post by thesoundmonitor on May 8, 2004 4:30:26 GMT -5
SILENT DRIVE
Love Is Worth It.
(Equal Vision)
Who’d’ve thought hardcore could be so sweet? Without losing an inch of aggressive credibility Silent Drive completely redefine the genre’s borders in an ever-impressive display of violent intensity and graceful drama. Packaged in what could be mistaken for a Sarah McLachlan album Love Is Worth It. (note the period), combines the best of hardcore with melody usually only found in commercial rock acts.
Born of numerous hardcore acts (Ink Cartridge Funeral, Bane, Drowningman and Dassai) the band will pummel the listener with a crunching riff such as the one found at the beginning of ‘Banana Rejection’, before breaking it all down for sweet verses and huge chorus melodies. Sharp, incisive riffs balance delicately along the line between emo and metalcore emo, carefully keeping poise and stability.
Vocalist Zach Jordan sounds like a veritable Jekyl and Hyde, launching from angst-ridden desperation to solemn eulogies in the twitch of a nervous eye. Meanwhile Dave Joyal (drums) and Pete Chilton (bass) back up the six-pronged attack of Nick Van Someron without question or even a hint of hesitation.
Underpinning the hardcore tumult is a subtle Faith No More influence, rearing it’s head only for breath, while the dramatics of Radiohead are also evident, if not subdued.
‘The Punch’ starts as the quartet’s most commercially acceptable piece, though such thoughts are dashed after 65 seconds with a crunching rock movement and screams peppered with profanities. Nevermind how the disparity works, just accept it.
The album fades to black with ‘Boyfriend Notes’ – a sullen, reflective track letting the listener down gently, rather than dropping them at the edge of a cliff. The very fact that Love Is Worth It. is a debut is astounding in itself, as Silent Drive have accomplished here what many age-old scenesters can only dream of achieving.
By Warren Wheeler
Love Is Worth It.
(Equal Vision)
Who’d’ve thought hardcore could be so sweet? Without losing an inch of aggressive credibility Silent Drive completely redefine the genre’s borders in an ever-impressive display of violent intensity and graceful drama. Packaged in what could be mistaken for a Sarah McLachlan album Love Is Worth It. (note the period), combines the best of hardcore with melody usually only found in commercial rock acts.
Born of numerous hardcore acts (Ink Cartridge Funeral, Bane, Drowningman and Dassai) the band will pummel the listener with a crunching riff such as the one found at the beginning of ‘Banana Rejection’, before breaking it all down for sweet verses and huge chorus melodies. Sharp, incisive riffs balance delicately along the line between emo and metalcore emo, carefully keeping poise and stability.
Vocalist Zach Jordan sounds like a veritable Jekyl and Hyde, launching from angst-ridden desperation to solemn eulogies in the twitch of a nervous eye. Meanwhile Dave Joyal (drums) and Pete Chilton (bass) back up the six-pronged attack of Nick Van Someron without question or even a hint of hesitation.
Underpinning the hardcore tumult is a subtle Faith No More influence, rearing it’s head only for breath, while the dramatics of Radiohead are also evident, if not subdued.
‘The Punch’ starts as the quartet’s most commercially acceptable piece, though such thoughts are dashed after 65 seconds with a crunching rock movement and screams peppered with profanities. Nevermind how the disparity works, just accept it.
The album fades to black with ‘Boyfriend Notes’ – a sullen, reflective track letting the listener down gently, rather than dropping them at the edge of a cliff. The very fact that Love Is Worth It. is a debut is astounding in itself, as Silent Drive have accomplished here what many age-old scenesters can only dream of achieving.
By Warren Wheeler