Lucid Skies: Hounds EP

As some readers already know, I get really fussy in the moments right before I put on music described as hardcore. I love hardcore, but I find that the term is often over applied to various kinds of extreme music, not all of it deserving of the label. Since I grew up in the 80s, hardcore will always be the powerful and influential punk music of that generation, not necessarily the punk of today. I know, I know, things have changed; that was then, this is now.

Fortunately, Lucid Skies is a good band. I didn't hear their last album, but this EP offers up a messy, wild, and aggressive style of punk rock that is much closer to what I would call hardcore than many other bands. No, it isn't the punk of yesteryear, but it captures something like it, a true family resemblance.

The band claims influences such as Hatebreed, Comback Kid, Holly Springs, and Disaster. I only know a couple of those bands, but I don't hear any one of them individually so much as a blend, a mélange of sorts. I was especially fond of the first two tracks: "Shotgun Mouthwash" and "Left Hook." The first track features a sample from a film with an angry voice that can only belong to Jack Nicholson (I think). For listeners that want to hear rage set to music, this is as good a place to start as any. Don't miss the sweet bass break in "With Eyes."

Track Listing:
1. Shotgun Mouthwash
2. Left Hook
3. With Eyes
4. Count Me Out

Added: December 21st 2013
Reviewer: Carl Sederholm
Score:
Related Link: Band Facebook Page
Hits: 2057
Language: english

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