Post-hardcore really seems to be taking off in the UK at the moment, with bands such as Hundred Reasons and Hell Is For Heroes leading the way. And Oxford's very own Schindler have now thrown their hat into the ring with their latest offering, 'Twowayarson', released on Golf Records.
Leaning rather heavily towards the Fugazi end of things, Schindler kinda sound like Therapy? with Scott Stapp of Creed on vocals... which doesn't sound particularly pleasant I know, but it's not as bad as it sounds, trust me. Infact Schindler have got some good things going with this three-track EP, which although it doesn't set the world alight, is solid enough to warrant a listen.
Kicking off with the title track, the band immediately launch into a stonking riff which sounds like something Rage Against The Machine once pounded out. Some rather strained vocals set things on their way, "set me on fire, watch me burn," they smoulder. I'd be lying if I said it was the most original thing I'd heard this year, but it's still a reasonably good track.
'Senses' is a lot faster and more uptempo, with the vocals again sounding like one of those piss-poor US 'nu-grunge' bands. A band cannot help who they sound like vocally, but they do come across a little bit too much like Pearl Jam rather than a UK band which they ultimately are. Still, 'Senses' is a half decent slice of melodic hardcore which is more refreshing than a pint of Strongbow. Shit ending though, it's almost like they ran out of tape. And it's little things like this which unfortunately sort out the men from the boys, and in terms of post-hardcore, Schindler are struggling to get through their teenage years.
'Praising Cain' rounds off this little EP rather disappointingly, with some vocals that sound like they were recorded when the singer was caught in a drunken stupor. It also seems to meander on without ever building up into a crescendo...it just goes on and on and on and on....
Schindler have enough in their arsenal to suggest that they can go on to better things, but 'twowayarson' isn't solid enough to warrant a purchase in my opinion. However, they do have elements of their sound which are fresher than a lot of bands around, and Schindler could be another UK band to come out of an emerging post-hardcore scene.
