Customer Reviews

Dear Furious

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've had 2 of this band's CDs in my collection for years and never really listened to them until more recently. In short, they are both very much by the numbers "tough guy" hardcore. The thing is, is that the frontman sounds completely unmenacing and the instrumentals are über plain. The "instrumental track" (more just guitar feedback) is the worst I've ever heard. I really don't understand why this band lasted long enough to warrant two albums.

A 18 are the ideal personification of hardcore and their recent effort under Victory Records according to the protective hardcore standards is...pretty much perfect. They play with fury, anger, and rampant speed. Hardcore bands have become a dime-a-dozen since most of the time all you need is some pent up anger, the ability to drop a few breakdowns and a capacity for expressing this as a four-piece unit. At this point, there are very few distinguishing factors that separate the average hardcore band from the ones who actually "get it." A 18 not only "get it" but it feels as if they penned a few words into the good book of hardcore as contributing writers to a book that is about to close the flap. Unlike some of the poser hardcore bands, A 18 has an honest, intimidating sense of hostility. They don't whip out the violent lyrics for the hell of it; they bleed from theirs fingers and write it in blood. For the casual hardcore fan it may be difficult to discern the difference but for the devoted ones, you can actually feel the hatred, the frustration and the sheer emotion of being wronged spilling out of the speakers with A 18. The music will accomplish this on it's own even before you hear the tension filled vocals hollering at anything they feel is wrong in society. If you don't believe it, listen to the tracks "Jailhouse Rob" and the titled track, "Dear Furious." If you pick out your hardcore bands sparingly because of the influx of imitators, don't waster your time with anything else and grab this CD. A 18, DEATH THREAT and TERROR should put together a tour as a means of re-introducing the point of hardcore (don't worry, MADBALL is included).