Re-release of post-hardcore hard-rock crossover band; a study of hardcore evolution into emo and even 90’s “grunge”. Interestingly the cd starts with their later material then gets older. Tough boy feel and idealistic-straightedge lyrical delivery, the early 80’s generic 2/4 thrash beat is given a gallop and becomes generic in itself. In the newer songs (tracks 1-7) the guitars are allowed to wank with stupid leads that would’ve gotten the band’s asses kicked 8 years earlier. Production is slick and full and sounds like if the band Rush were a trio of the Stern brothers (Youth Brigade) instead of Geddy, Alex and Neal with all the dumb parts and changes and foreshadow all things Soundgarden and Pearl Jam. Tracks 8 and above are honest post-hardcore, with a definite Dischord-DC feel and are highly recommened (while 1-7 should be avoided).

1) galloping, melodic vocs, heavy breakdown toward end
2) hard swagger rock intro to 2/4 gallop, then classic rock bridge of sorts, then 2/4 thrash includes a total eddie van halen guitar wank-fest
3) 2/4 gallop, multifaceted
4) okay, this classic rock intro plain sucks, smacks of Rush, if fact I’d call this a “hardcore Rush song” with all its changes and “parts”
5) another epic hard-rock wankfest
6) jeeze
7) gallop centered
8) solid 2/4 hardcore
9) solid angry 2/4 hardcore with backup chorus vocs
10-11) almost a DC hardcore feel, good anthemic
12) strong Dischord feel
13) 2/4 gallop thrash, wall of sound is undeniable and great, lots of changes, amazing how bad they fucked this song up by redo’ing it later (track 3)
14) doomy cool first part, then 2/4
15) a brief heavy instrumental smacks of Scratch Acid, combine with following track
16) 2/4 idealism
17) 2/4 thrash with 4/4 rockin bridge and a wanky guitar that’s acceptable but foreshadows that crap they went on to do (tracks 1-7)
18) upbeat 2/4
19) 2/4 driving, good production
20) more
21) urgent, crisper production if not a bit generic
22) FCCs
23) low fi production, way more “punk”, good fast/slow change-ups

Crippled Youth: 24-26) FCCs
27) anthemic idealist punk
28) fast again
29) FCCs
30) super brief quintessential short punk song
31-32) FCCs