THE BREAK “S/T”
Have you ever held a cd (packaging and all) in your hand and believed that the thing felt like a million bucks? The artwork on THE BREAK’s debut full-length is pretty minimalist, but it looks so solid and confident. This disc knows it’s a winner before someone even purchases it. And well, I’d have to agree, because this is some rockin’ music. As this band’s bio readily admits, THE BREAK aren’t doing anything original or innovative, but just merely taking a standard formula of upbeat punk rock and adding a hearty dose of energy, swagger, and style to the genre. Bolstered by a meaty production quality, loud, frenzied vocals, and a fluid approach to having each song connect with the next, THE BREAK play their set inside your stereo with no qualms and no pauses. If anything, these guys are a really refreshing band that knows that playing music is it’s business and that’s it. THE BREAK also take great care to their lyrical matters, combing between personal diatribes and tackling some larger issues, as seen on the song “Profit Motive,” where the band vents, “Well never fall again, and now we know they know why. We raise our voice, we’re discontent, and we’re fighting to get by. To bring some meaning into our lives.” At times, the vocals don’t seem to connect completely with the upbeat sound, as often they fall into a gruffer territory, not unlike their fellow New Jersey counterparts, EX NUMBER FIVE. All thirteen songs blitz on by (32 minutes of music), and there’s no rest for the weary with this band’s slash and burn style. While not nearly as aggressive as say, LIFETIME, a lot of the same kind of hooks are there. I can see big things for this band should they tour the heck out of this disc.
Doghouse Records
