It’s a sad and embarrassingly widely known fact that I know next to nothing about hardcore – i’m not a fan of the particular subcategory of punk that has become ever more larger, and I don’t pretend to be. I know little of the roots of hardcore, and for this particular record, I’m told the influences are Naked Raygun and Dag Nasty – but I wouldn’t have recognised this myself. However, none of these points matter; simply because despite my ignorance, I do know one thing – that this record is damn good.
As Friends Rust manage to create a refreshing melodic hardcore sound with this little EP, at a disappointingly short 11:45. However, with music like this it’s easy to forgive the rather short duration of the CD. Kicking off with the excellent ‘Half Friend Town‘, an unabashed statement of intent by AFR, which what can only described as a whining, foreboding guitar sound, coupled with another providing welcome melody to the preceedings to create an almost proclamation-like song; with the unashamed honesty of the lyrics propelling the music forward – ‘Here I think in song, here I speak freely of my flaws, and my excesses’.
Following is the equally explosive ‘Like Strings (Spell it with a K)’ is powerfully strong, both in musical and lyrical content. Screaming vocals dominate the proceedings at first, with angst filled chord progression encouraging you to shout along every second of the way. The song revolves heavily around that which no longer matters, and the security that comes with friendship – ‘But like all good things, they must end, so just tough it out with your dirty friends. How good were “things” anyway? When the pretense won’t wash away?’ – with the intense sound dropping slowly for some contemplative palm muting, and resigning to the background for a 30 seconds or so, whilst the vocals slam the truth on the table for all to see – one guitar, then another slowly pitch in, and combine to push the song at full pace toward the end.
‘Fire on 8th and 3rd’ is an 10 second intermission; followed by my personal favourite ‘Coffee Black’ a song mocking the sobriety, boredom and inherent prejudice associated with middle class suburban life within America – ‘You like your coffee black, your neighborhood white, your lights are out at nine o’ clock at night’ – it’s also concerned equally with consumerism and the relentless drive of Capitalism – ‘The only problem that you’ve got, is the night that Wheel of Fortune’s not. And the only thing you haven’t bought, are the people that are buying you – needless to say, it sounds fucking superb, dropping off half way through for a breather, and so begins the repeated chant ‘And the Football Season is the only reason you stay alive in your Prime Time beehive’ which is backed by a telling guitar and some inter-twining vocals; by the time the song finishes you’re convinced this is one of the best songs you’ve heard in a long time.
‘Scapegoat Wets The Whistle’ is slightly less angst ridden, taking on a far more relaxed attitude after the initial opening, slowing right down around 2 minutes in for a surprisingly slow bridge between the first and last part of the song; a steadfast vocal montage makes for a rigidly structured end vocal style (listen and you’ll understand). Overall, this is a great little EP, worth buying for ‘Coffee Black’ alone.*
nick
*You can also get this, with their other EP, ‘the fists of time’, for an overall cheaper price than buying them individually, on the ‘eleven songs’ record.