Story
Of The Year - The Black Swan (Epitaph)
The Black Swan gets off to an explosive
start that doesn't let up with "Choose
Your Fate" before crunching into the
paranoid-tinged "Wake Up," "The
Antidote," and "Tell Me (P.A.C.),"
all of which keep up a frenzied pace throughout
the entire album. Without compromising the
band's sheer force, straightforward punk rock
stylings give way to more nuanced song structures.
The Black Swan has easily accessible political
songs, such as "Message To The World"
or "Welcome to Our New War" that
contain overpowering lyrics of empowerment,
draped over distorted guitars, a blustery
rhythm section, and loud, strained, but yearning
vocals. Story Of The Year doesn't wave the
American flag in your face, they deliver these
songs with verses of freedom, peace, and truth.
Blasts of primal, hardcore punk roar in unison
with early-Zeppelin-like classic rock anthems
- barely contained rock energy that absorbs
the past, but isn't beholding to any cliched
genre or nostalgia factor, The Story Of The
Year rocks hard on its own merits! - Phil
Rainone
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