Dutch melodic punk band THE REAL DANGER are DESCENDENTS and LIFETIME enthusiasts, and the styles of those two bands propel just about everything this band does. By cutting down the middle of these respective influences, the group forges its own identity (with much credit to the distinctive vocals of Michiel Walrave), bolstered by fits of urgency and needling guitars. I reviewed their debut S/T full-length a little while ago, and Making Enemies is stronger in every aspect. Coming across as both snotty and emotional, revved up, but dispatched with coolness, THE REAL DANGER are immediately affable. Songs about heartache, longing, dependency, and ‘knowing when to go’ run through the 13 song track listing, which also includes a SUPERCHUNK cover (“Skip Steps 1 & 3″). While a common subject matter holds a strangle around the band’s consciousness, the lyrics are broad enough to be extrapolated into a variety of situations. “Let Me Go” tugs hard with lines like “I’m not here to save your soul, I can’t even save mine. I’m shocked to find out how big you build me up in your mind. There’s nothing I can say, nothing I can do, to make you understand that you have got to let me go.” Nearly every song has a memorable hook, and most of them are beautifully subtle, gaining strength with repeat listens. The ninth tune, “Rewind and Erase” stabs a hole into the band members’ past hardcore band histories with a scorching tempo and a bit more ‘burn’ in the air (think GREY AREA). It’s a highlight that doesn’t steer the band off track. I’ve gushed enough — someone get this band a tour in the US, and maybe a licensing deal too!

Shield Recordings