The Distance--Your Closest Enemies
Bridge 9 Records
Pissed off hardcore.
Packaging--
The good:
The artwork is a photo of two guys standing, arms behind their backs, and a black line covering their eyes with the band and album name. Really doesn't grab you from the front. But, when you flip over the back you see their hands are behind their backs holding knives...a clever idea. Very dark, drab colors throughout that set a mood. So that's nicely done. Put this in your computer and you get a video, some photos, and links. The video is very nicely done, it looks professional and is of the band jamming in a warehouse with some other random people that may tell a story but I didn't really see one formed.
The bad:
Well, I don't care for digipaks, but that's a personal preference...this arrived with two bent corners...when a regular case arrived damaged you just dish out a quarter and get a new one. I'll probably wind up saying this in every review of a digipak. While the artwork is clever, the dark colors definitely won't catch your eye, but that's a moot point as well.
Now, the booklet is where I get a bit anal. The lyric sheet is loaded with spelling and grammatical errors. "Your so fucking weak" or "You think youll get , get the best of me." This is forgivable when you have the handwritten lyric sheet style...but these are typed.
The whole "association" with Barely Legal Cloting did sour me, but I still think hardcore should stand for what it stood for in 1996 and that just isn't happening anymore.
The music:
The good:
Fast paced angry hardcore. This is on Bridge 9 and while every band on Bridge 9 certainly has their own sound that makes them unique, almost every band has a very similar general sound. The vocalist used to be in Voice of Reason who have a few releases out but they never did much for me...I do know that band never really did much for me, mainly due to poor production. I didn't hold onto their CDs and this one sits on my shelf, so I obviously like this better.
Lyrically we have a guy who's pissed at former friends, former lovers, and just the way life turned out...the band is from Connecticut, I don't see how bad life could be. Vocally, he does a scream/yell style that is more varied and interesting than the typical "bark" that you often hear. It's a higher pitched, not to the point of say the vocalist of Where Fear and Weapons Meet, but definitely more of a shriek than a growl. Musically, we have fast paced, catchy, short songs executed well with excellent production. If you are into the genre, you'll like these guys. The songs have the breakdowns and the singalongs and after listening to it twice you'll be able to sing along at the show.
The bad--
This CD set me back $10 from the label, I see it in stores for on average at $12...it's eight minutes long. Six songs, eight minutes, $12. I think they need to reconsider that. I do not object to eight minute CDs, but if a CD is eight minutes, charge me $5.
I enjoy this style of music but I find a full length 30 minute CD difficult to stomach so I honestly prefer when bands like this put out shorter releases because it get monotonous...but still, this could've been twice the length and a couple bucks cheaper.
I also find it deliciously ironic that the vocalist screams out the lyric "Yeah I'm hurting, but still I hold it in."
Recap�
This isn't bad but it's not exactly essential. If you like the whole fast, pissed off, Bridge 9 sound, then this would be a worthwhile purchase. The band is doing nothing new or groundbreaking, nor do they claim to. If you are just getting into this style and you don't own Give Up The Ghost's "Year One," pick that one up first and go from there. The only other issue I have is with the price...there are better bands and better bargains out there.
Want more info?
http://www.bridge9.com
http://www.thedistance.net
Review by Chris
