Friday, October 10, 2008

A WILHELM SCREAM - Ruiner


A WILHELM SCREAM
Ruiner
Nitro Records – 2005
7/10




With A Wilhelm Scream, you get a lot of variety in songwriting, an upfront, honest approach and a realness that is evident throughout the band’s songwriting resulting in a textured record that’s pretty damn entertaining.

“Runier” finds the band experimenting with straight-up hardcore, rough-edged modern rock, tumultuous post-punk and sounds that push the boarders of genres. “God Loves A Liar” is punkish and progressive, while “The King Is Dead” enters with a mellow passage that’s similar to System Of A Down before launching full-force into some Comeback Kid-style hardcore that will take your head off.

When listening to “The Pool”, you may think that NOFX has gotten into a head-on collision with Rush and Alex Lifeson’s hands were sewn back onto Fat Mike. There’s a lot of tunefulness to be found here and one doesn’t even need to look for it. It is right there in your face, whether the band is plowing through a hardcore breakdown or speedy, double-kick fueled chorus. “Congratulations” is reminiscent of Pennywise being mashed with Iron Maiden. The end result is markedly successful.

“The Kids Can Eat A Bag Of Dicks” is a fist-pumping anthem that’s sure to draw a bit of attention and not just for its overtly politically incorrect title. Listening to the track, a fan of this sort of thing can’t help but ponder an out-of-control, skanking fit.

Give the boys their due, “Ruiner” is a bold artistic statement which is both riveting and well-deserving of repeated plays on your iPod. Snatch it up.


ERIN FOX © 2005 - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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