You cannot deny that The SmashUp have plenty of talent, but there’s something about this album I just don’t like too much. Fusing traditional post-hardcore sounds (Sal Villanueva of TBS/Thursday fame produced this) with more manic, ballsy Foo Fighters/System of a Down kinda-sound, The SmashUp don’t really sound like too many other bands. But in being so varied, I think they lose track a little of what they want to be – do they want to be like the Foos and be all over MTV, or do they want crashing guitars and screams to fit in with the emo crowd? I’m not too sure and I don’t think the band really are either.
‘Icarus Flies’ and ‘Rachel’s Day’ are really solid efforts that have plenty of hooks and melodies, even though the vocals are very in-yer-face. They are arguably the best part about the band – half high and wailing, always very distinctive. At a time when a lot of bands do things by the book, at least The SmashUp fuse different types of music with someone who can sing; and sing well. But then there are some pretty duff tracks too – ‘Pressure’ is dull, while ‘Violencer Part II’ tends to venture down nu-metal territory a little bit too much for my liking. The SmashUp are a bit different, just not really for me. Still, worth checking out if you’re after some new music…
www.thesmashup.com
Mighty Atom
Paul