For those of you living under a rock, this is the first record by International Superheroes of Hardcore, made up of Captain Straightedge – Vocals, Sgt. Soy – Bass, Mr. Mosh – Guitar, Chugga Chugga – Guitar and The Amazing Breakdown – Drums. Of course the band is actually New Found Glory under a different guise playing Good Clean Fun-esque hardcore that is silly yet absolutely brilliant at the same time. Originally released in Japan this album is now coming out with NFG’s new EP and, well, it’s probably going to be better than the band’s normal output.
ISOH are a daft bunch. they sing about Back to the Future, Harry Potter being hardcore and how they’re actually superheroes wearing capes. You cannot take this record seriously at all, but you can live it and love it – because the songs themselves, for all their stupidity and childish lyrics, are bloody brilliant. Most tracks are around a minute long and feature Chad Gilbert spitting his lyrics around some hardcore guitar riffs and furious drum patterns. There are still plenty of singalong bits and the gang vocals are done really well – never better on ‘Never Forget (Seatbelt)’ where the band debate the merits of buckling up behind the wheel. Seriously.
The highlights? ‘Madball‘s Got Our Back’ and the album’s opening song are both brilliant. You have to take this record with tongue firmly in cheek, taking it too seriously just means you’ll lose the whole point of it. It’s completely fun, as the band mock Harry Potter, recite Back to the Future lines to a hardcore backdrop and ‘If You Like Hardcore Then We Think You Rule’ touches on the more fashionable, trendy element to hardcore which has come into the genre (here’s looking at you, Bane!)
The delivery is what makes this record so damn fun mind you, as the band talk within the songs and the silly subject matter will raise more than the odd smile. ‘Roads? Where we’re going, we don’t need rooooooads!’ kind of sums the album up, one big fun fest that begs to be played loud and proud.