Rival Schools - Disc of the day

Rival Schools
United By Fate

(Island, 2001)

Splenetic oldsters take hardcore to the masses, ignite a generation of poppy punks.

Of all the phrases that might pop into your head when thinking about American hardcore punk, “mainstream appeal” almost certainly wouldn’t be one of them. After all, the curious blend of metal guitars, brutal rhythms and ultra-serious social commentary was never made for more than the loyal few. There are a handful, however, who risk the wrath of shaven-headed straight-edgers the world over by stepping onto a broader stage. Take Walter Schreifels. Having helped define the New York hardcore sound and the youth crew movement playing for the likes of Gorilla Biscuits, Youth Of Today and Quicksand, Schreifels greeted the 21st century with a new band (made up of his old buddies from the New York scene) and a welcome change of pace.

Rival Schools’ United By Fate is a milestone in modern heavy rock; wild punk abandon tempered by rock solid discipline and musicianship. Album opener Travel By Telephone might start with chaotic distortion and Schreifels’ bestial cries, but it soon crystallises into a pin-sharp chorus, punctuated by Dinosaur Jr-esque laserstreak guitar solos. From Used For Glue’s unapologetically pogo-friendly riff to the escape fantasies of The Switch, the tracks are bound together by a youthful vitality that belies the band’s veteran status. Rival Schools may have only given us one album, but it’s the real deal – sunny and stormy, fuzzy and sharp, short and sweet.

Chris Lo

Posted by Danny_Eccleston at 10:54 AM GMT 09/06/2008