…zzzZZZZZZZUUUUUUMMMMMMMmmm…
Did you get that? That was the self titled, 16 track, 21 minute Das Oath album. The whole thing passes you by with the mere blink of an eye and I should add, not in a bad way. Maybe I’m not listening to enough high-class-hardcore punk, but every second of this is played at such breakneck, nose bleed enducing speed it is really quite petrifying. And more importantly, fucking awesome.
Putting your finger on why it is so pant wettingly amazing is a difficult one. It doesn’t last long, the cover art is dull, and well the name Das Oath isn’t the most eye catching you will ever hear or see. But for 20 odd minutes they simply rip the rulebook up and shove it up anyone who is willing to gaze disapprovingly in their directions arse. The tracks follows simple guidelines – play as hard and fast as you can in tune and hope it turns out in a manner which will pay dividends.
And as you have probably guessed by my opening two paragraphs, it is a plan that works rather well. Particular standouts include the thumping ‘Get out of Your Scene’ and the poetic (don’t ask how) ‘Harmonise’ which keep the second half suitably propped up. With half the band hailing from America, the other half Holland, how they co-exist is anyone’s guess but as long as they continue with tracks in the vain of the spastastic ‘Comatose Life of Wonderment’ and the more subtle and charismatic ‘Awesome Rape’, things will continue to turn out just dandy.
This is the method of hardcore which sits well with me. The whole attitude of it is fuck you, we don’t care. More bands like this need to be pushed and shoved into peoples CD players while crap such as generic post hardcore band #3 need to be killed off. Lets hope Das Oath start the revolt.
Jay
www.das-oath.com
Dimmak Records