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Project X
Straight Edge Revenge
Bridge 9 / Schism Records
Rating: 3/5
Reviewed by Jeff |
This record is 6 songs (5 originals and one live track) of fast, superstraightedge hardcore. No, scratch that, it's 6 songs of anti-not-edge hardcore with some of the most close-minded lyrics ever written. This record was recorded about 17 years ago though, so any controversy over the lyrical content is pretty much rendered null. This B9 re-release serves as more of a historical document of the tail end of the second wave of straightedge bands, post-CBGB closing (nice shot of a dude bombing the CB's awning in the layout) but pre-Gorilla Biscuits edgebreak/ mass-Krishna conversion. B9 is putting out a book collecting every issue of the classic Schism zines; this record was originally released as a bonus to one of the zine's issues and it features all the all-stars including Porcell, Sammy, and other dudes that played in bands of the era. Bootlegs of this recording have been circulating for years and B9 decided to pick up the slack and put out the real shit.
At once this record epitomizes everything great about this era and everything bad about it. The lyrics are indicative of the period, particularly the song "Shutdown" about CB's ban on the Youth Crew and its adoption of security in the late 80's, and the music has more in common with "New York Crew"-era Judge than anything else. Everything is incredibly simplistic, the production is raw and sounds worse than most modern bands' demos. Lyrical subjects include fighting drunks at shows, severing old friendships for new ones after embracing straight edge, and using controlled substance qualities as metaphors for sXe kids (i.e. "I'll fuck you up as fast as the pill on your tonge"). At the outset, everything about this band is incredibly intolerant and abrasive, and the same adjectives could apply to a lot of this band's peers.
But honestly, that's what's so endearing about sXe bands from the late 80's: they are the musical incarnation of hardcore kids' knee-jerk reaction to the world outside of their Sunday matinees. Instead of drinking, these kids started bands that played hardcore devoid of any other genre's influence--no metal, no bullshit. Some of these bands aren't pleasant to listen to (re: Bold), but that's not the point. You'll find more honest energy, anger, and discontent in the nine minutes it takes to listen to this than in just about any modern hardcore band's full length.
All around, it's a fun record to listen to as long as you have a taste for the other 88 edge bands (Youth of Today, Judge, Bold, etc.), otherwise stay the fuck away from this. I don't know that this record will ever get heavy rotation with me, but it's cool to listen to on the nights when you dust off your records from when Revelation was based in New Haven and watch old videos from the Anthrax.
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