Comeback Kid typical screamo
What's standard of hardcore
music, or "screamo" as most underground
music enthusiasts will tell
you, is the loudness, the passion,
and the intensity that musicians put
forth in a live concert or during a
production recording. Listeners are
guaranteed a venting session to
headbang, fist pump and yell, but
unfortunately, to tune into the poetry
of the lyrics is non-negotiable.
Hardcore music is a difficult genre
to critique, and unless you really
love the scene, the overpowering
noise of the guitar, bass, drums or
vocals makes it hard to get to hear
the lyrics while you are sitting
down relaxing with a bottle of beer.
That's not to say their lyrics aren't good: on the fourth song Because of All, Comeback Kid poignantly state while thinking about what he should have said to a girl, "…give it some time. Mulling it over / Pulling down the shades until the nerves recover / You wanna know what's really bothering me? / I'm not passive aggressive, but I had to leave." What's good to note is that Comeback Kid wrote their own lyrics and worked with engineer/producer, Eric Ratz (known for works with Billy Talent and Cancer Bats), so there was a clear direction of a sound to familiarize themselves.
Symptoms + Cures is the title of the Winnipeg-born band's latest album. The band was formed in 2002 by Andrew Neufeld (vocals) and Jeremy Hiebert (guitarist), who were both members of the band Figure Four (currently on break). They were joined by Kyle Profetta (drums), Casey Hjelmber (guitar) and Mathew Keil (bass). Their initial popularity was mainly due to word of mouth in the hardcore scene. This sixth album happens to acknowledge former Pittsburgh Penguins NHL hockey player Mario Lemieux, returning to the ice. But unfortunately, Comeback Kid slides into the grey genre of screaming, unintelligible lyrical noise and seemingly endless cynicism.
What would have been ideal for Comeback Kid would be a wider range of music on their CD. Many hardcore bands slide towards slower melodies (think now defunct 2003 hardcore band Glassjaw or present day System of a Down), with softer riffs and more harmony. Screaming is great for a few songs, but if the whole album is intense, hard and powerful, it gets dull by the end and lumps itself with all other hardcore bands.
If you are sold on hardcore music, then add this CD to your collection. But if you are experimenting with sounds and prefer to have a more relaxing background sound, I would pass.
Rating: 2 1/2 out of 5
That's not to say their lyrics aren't good: on the fourth song Because of All, Comeback Kid poignantly state while thinking about what he should have said to a girl, "…give it some time. Mulling it over / Pulling down the shades until the nerves recover / You wanna know what's really bothering me? / I'm not passive aggressive, but I had to leave." What's good to note is that Comeback Kid wrote their own lyrics and worked with engineer/producer, Eric Ratz (known for works with Billy Talent and Cancer Bats), so there was a clear direction of a sound to familiarize themselves.
Symptoms + Cures is the title of the Winnipeg-born band's latest album. The band was formed in 2002 by Andrew Neufeld (vocals) and Jeremy Hiebert (guitarist), who were both members of the band Figure Four (currently on break). They were joined by Kyle Profetta (drums), Casey Hjelmber (guitar) and Mathew Keil (bass). Their initial popularity was mainly due to word of mouth in the hardcore scene. This sixth album happens to acknowledge former Pittsburgh Penguins NHL hockey player Mario Lemieux, returning to the ice. But unfortunately, Comeback Kid slides into the grey genre of screaming, unintelligible lyrical noise and seemingly endless cynicism.
What would have been ideal for Comeback Kid would be a wider range of music on their CD. Many hardcore bands slide towards slower melodies (think now defunct 2003 hardcore band Glassjaw or present day System of a Down), with softer riffs and more harmony. Screaming is great for a few songs, but if the whole album is intense, hard and powerful, it gets dull by the end and lumps itself with all other hardcore bands.
If you are sold on hardcore music, then add this CD to your collection. But if you are experimenting with sounds and prefer to have a more relaxing background sound, I would pass.
Rating: 2 1/2 out of 5
