New York punk rockers
Crime In Stereo compile a selection of tracks
recorded in the last few years on their most recent release 'Selective Wreckage'. After a short break up earlier in the year
CIS quickly reformed and put out this compilation as part of a series of new records planned for the next 12 months (as well as some serious touring with New Found Glory among others), as well as proving that they are very much "not dead".
The cd swiftly kicks off on 'Everywhere And All The Time' with a rebellious pop-punk attitude, packing a catchy set of chords, melodies and raspy vocals into a well contructed 3 minute-er. The band continue to roll out the hooks as they progress quickly though almost the entirity of the record, their charmingly melodic approach to punk rock (gang chants and drum rolls aplenty) remains consistent but underwhelming, due to sounding somewhat recycled and almost dated.
Unexpectedly (to a clueless non-fan such as myself, at least) the record climaxes on a considerably darker note with the track 'Four X's', a song better suited to the mind of the avid classic hardcore/screamo fan, sounding more like the 21st century equivilant to Heroin or Rites Of Spring. Vocalist Kristian Hallbert's (forgive me if I'm incorrect about that) poetic cries of agression unleash a new side to the band which is untouched upon prior to this song, seemingly displaying a contrary distaste to melody and conformity though a gritty soundscape of fuzzy guitar riffs, feedback, and gut-busting percussion. The final track on the compilation 'Let Me Take You Out' lingers on the aftertaste of 'Four X's' gloomier tone, it's ambience and solomn vocals fading into memory within less than two minutes as the record draws to a conclusion.
Crime In Stereo have guts and are unafraid to branch out to somewhat more expressive dimentions of punk and hardcore than the majority of the record gives them credit for. The closing tracks of the cd (a short and sweet 23 minutes in total) prove that the band can distinguish themselves as serious artists with bold ideas, but everything else seems to have all been heard before. I now have high hopes that the band can expand on what can be heard in this disc and come up with something truely refreshing in the near future.
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CRIME IN STEREO - SELECTIVE WRECKAGE
Crime In Stereo - Tour and New Video