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Considering the track record of the parties involved, it’s not hard to see
why there’s so much hype surrounding this, the debut full length from Rival
Schools (formerly Rival Schools United By Fate; changed for legal reasons).
Featuring singer/guitarist Walter Schreifels, who basically helped create the genres of hardcore and emo, United By Fate picks up where his now-defunct World’s Fastest Car left off, and features at least 2 songs from their arsenal.
Although each member is a veteran of the New York hardcore scene, Rival Schools is refreshingly very un-hardcore. Although retaining a sense of tension and passion, songs such as Travel by Telephone, So Down On and The Switch lament on friendships and relationships without sounding the least bit sappy or (god forbid) e-m-o. Tracks such as My Echo and Hooligans For Life are melodic and aggressive enough to make this a wonderful crossover record; one that will satiate those (like me) looking for projects to dissolve our expectations of the modern state of music, and keep us listening.
Dave Maffei is a Staff Writer. Contact him at dave@rockzone.com.
