AS FRIENDS RUST “Won”
Finally, after years of being a band, not being a band, going through many line-up changes, and a few EPs, we are treated to a full length from this extremely talented melodic hardcore band. For those are who not terribly familiar with AS FRIENDS RUST, picture a way more hardcore HOT WATER MUSIC. A few things set this band apart from the back, and most obvious are the great vocals, which can turn from singing passively into some wicked screaming on the flip of a dime. Between the 10 tunes on “Won,” there’s a very broad range of style with a few tunes going back to a late 80s hardcore thrash style (double bass included), and then others stretching to more melodic, rockish pastures. AS FRIENDS RUST have that unique ability to allow their songs to explode with such vicious rage, you just don’t know what’s going to come next. The only other band that I can think of that did that, at least in the past few years is KID DYNAMITE. The refinement of the production should be noted here, though the promo I received didn’t mention who was behind the knobs. The drums pack a huge thump and the guitars scorch on by. I’ve never seen these guys live, but if this disc gives a good indication of how intense they are with a crowd surrounding them, then that should be quite an experience. Awesome.
Doghouse
