Infinite Water,
Razor CrusadeRefused are fucking dead!!!!
Apparently, anyway. Luckily, their memory and influence lives on regardless, whether it be directly (ie. The International Noise Conspiracy), shameless namedropping (Hell Is For Heroes) or, in Razord Crusade’s case, indirect influence and a healthy nod to the discordant yet danceable riffs most prevalent on the bands legendary ‘The Shape Of Punk To come’ album.
The problem with sounding a lot like a classic band is, well, just that. Get your own damn sound! But Razor Crusade pull of a sort of bastardised Refused sound so well, and without sounding exactly like them, that it’s ok to smile and dance along.
Opener ‘This Song Is for Alex’ narrowly takes the song of the album award, and is likely to find it’s way onto the start of a mix tape at some point, it’s that good. Think ‘Summerholidays vs Punkroutine’ put through some sort of Dutch punk blender, and you’re halfway there.
The new vocalist gives Razor Crusade a more rounded sound than on ‘Are You Wired?’ with the melodic vocals taking a much more prominent role and, on the most part, impressing beyond any expectations. ‘I Wish You Were Me’ dips and dives from power to introspection, ‘Osaka Android’ develops a reasonably simple melody and turns it into a complete danceathon, while ‘Put On Your Best Suit’ explodes with no warning, the vocals cracking while the guitars pummel the listener.
While the title track stretches the limits a little too far, unfortunately ending up a little weak, and the time changes and general tempo of the record sometimes threatens to dampen any immediate effects on the listener, these are minor gripes which don’t take away from the overall quality of this release. A mention must also go to the packaging, which, as is always the case with Reflections, is frankly stunning. The detail and lush design in the artwork is something which should be noted by every record label from here to Timbuktu. Albums are a package, not just a collection of random songs.
Reflections continuously put out top quality music, but in the case of Razor Crusade, they’ve uncovered a real gem. Taking on such an unenviable task in putting the dance back into hardcore, Razor Crusade have come up smiling with a winner on their hands. Go see them when they tour here in a month or so. You deserve it.
Ross
