Taking Sides - Smash TheWindows To The DeadHearts...

Fri 13th Feb, 2004 in Music Reviews

Taking Sides are a relatively new hardcore band from Sydney, but they are not playing music like the current crop of hardcore/emo bands floating around. This is brutal, bonecrushing hardcore. In other words bloody good.

Vocals duties for Taking Sides are taken up by the hardcore cult figure known as B.E (ex-TBK and current Deadstare vocalist), but this band is not purely driven by B.E’s vocal talents. The music kills. I did mention brutal and I meant it, fast drums, heavy guitars with a bit of a melodic edge, heavy bass lines and crushing back up vocals. Akin to bands such as Man Afraid and Ruination among others.

But the record. It starts with the slightly depressing but almost strangely positive ‘Another Show’ and that song provides the base for which the entire EP rests on. The record rushes through two more tracks till ‘Clock In/Clock Out’ a beautiful comment on modern capitalist work ethic. Another two tracks and the record is over (that is six tracks for those not bothering to count), it ends with the track ‘Backs To The Wall’. A track which seems to be a comment on the sometimes transitory nature of those people attracted to the hardcore scene.

This is a great first release from Taking Sides, having seen them live this record does quite capture their sound, intensity and energy. In a sea of generic hardcore, this record is refreshing and a ‘must have’ for those enthusiasts of all things hardcore punk.