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Sick Of It All: Based on a true story
07/10/10 || Habakuk
True story: This album didn’t sit too well with the majority of GD staff on Audio Autopsy earlier this year. Contrast: I kinda like it.
Possible solution #1: Everybody sucks, I iz the truth.
Possible solution #2: I have a soft spot for (New York) Hardcore, which is absent from most other staff.
Whatever it is, “Based on a true story” is one good album released 2010 and definitely deserves better than a 4, or than being ranked way below Ratt. And I can assure you it’s not Fanboy-Kuk speaking. It’s not like I’ve been an avid follower of Sick Of It All throughout their career, in fact this is the very first album of theirs I’ve checked out, big name or not.
Boy was I pleasantly surprised when the first three tracks consisted of stomping Hardcore perfection. This sort of full-frontal, guitars-start-stop/drums-pound-on facemelting material just works with me. Together with a throaty screamer that knows his craft without entering the realms of the annoying (hello, Raised Fist), Sick Of It All rip and tear through the start of their album like there is no tomorrow. Why I draw the line there, is that with track four, tomorrow actually does make an appearance – a.k.a the first elements of their sound that I don’t like. First of all: “Woooooooooooohoooooooooooooooow!“-Shouts. I thought those died with Pennywise? Oh wait, they’re still around. Explanation accepted. Alternatively, “melodic” gang shouts. Fuck no. Two out of 14 tracks absolutely fail to impress for those reasons.
Plus, it becomes apparent that they don’t really go anywhere with their stuff, entertaining as it may be. “Braveheart” is a 45 second drums-centered buildup at song position number five. It leads to – nothing. Now that’s what I call a climax. The album just goes on as if nothing had happened. Completely unnecessary, and it serves well in pinpointing their weakness of using superfluous material. It simply becomes clear they crammed a bit too much onto that disc. And mind you, no song exceeds three minutes and the whole thing’s over in roundabout 33 minutes. Not exactly an accolade for their steadiness. This is not an album that will convert hordes of haters to the style, that’s for sure.
However, to catch myself so the review reaches the above-average score I have in mind, in comes the last paragraph: the songs unaffected by the listed weaknesses are absolutely flawless, with a few more high points strewn throughout the album. Every instrument sounds fantastic, the lyrics are on the left-wing side of valuelessness (a bonus) and those not allergic to the skip button will find a good selection of honest, pissed off, in-your-face Hardcore. Everyone else probably happened to be on Audio Autopsy June 2010.
- Information
- Released: 2010
- Label: Century Media
- Website: www.sickofitall.com
- Band
- Lou Koller: vocals
- Pete Koller: guitars
- Craig “Ahead” Setari: bass
- Armand Majidi: drums
- Tracklist
- 01. Death or jail
- 02. The divide
- 03. Dominated
- 04. A month of Sundays
- 05. Braveheart
- 06. Bent outta shape
- 07. Lowest common denominator
- 08. Good cop
- 09. Lifeline
- 10. Watch it burn
- 11. Waiting for the day
- 12. Long as she’s standing
- 13. Nobody rules
- 14. Dirty money
