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Suicide File

Twilight
2002
Indecision

Suicide File - Twilight (Cover Artwork)

Review by: pwfanatic
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Published on March 21st 2003

True angry music is a lost art. Now a day, it is all angry at the girlfriend or parent lyrics, but just pissed off at the world music is gone. Not anymore, for out of the ashes of several bands comes Suicide File with their first full length release “Twilight.”

“Twilight” is beyond harsh, and that is an understatement. Suicide File is a well-oiled hardcore machine, but almost too well oiled as the album doesn’t even clock in at a full twenty minutes long.

The lyrics are put on the spotlight in this album, because in the hardcore-hold-no-barred genre, they are arguably the most important aspect of the sound. Suicide File doesn’t fail in this area. Vocalist Dave Weinberg screams, but it isn’t the stereotypical hardcore scream, as his words are generally intelligible. “Twilight” showcases two differently song types, the political edge and the bitter at everything edge.

Songs like “W” and “Ashcroft” make some pretty blunt words for the men their respective songs were named after. “Ashcroft” makes a pretty harsh statement with, “I can see people like you/using tragedy to advance/your own narrow moral crusade.”

Other songs like “Mission Hill Party” have Weinberg screaming “No one’s gonna save you/so just quit trying/no one’s gonna save you/so just quit crying.”

Musically, Suicide File is as tight as Hope Conspiracy, the band they most remind me of. There are two guitars for riffs that generally only one guitar is needed, but that adds to the brutality of the album. The bass lines are solid, nothing spectacular, but for the most part, nothing on the album is, and that is the genius of “Twilight.”

The highlight of the album is definitely the track “Rum, Romanism and Tammany.” It takes everything that Suicide File does best and smashes it into one minute and five seconds of sheer brutality. It’s fast, it has both the political and angry edges, and it isn’t catchy at all. There doesn’t seem to actually be any reason why this song works so well, but it does. It is like my friend said: listening to that song is like someone saying they are going to throw a brick at you on the count of three, and on the count of two, someone runs behind you and hits you in the back of the head with a bag of bricks. The track pummels you and leaves you broken and bloodied on the floor, yet still craving more.

For all of the greatness that is Suicide File, the huge problem with the album is that it is over in less than 18 minutes. I think there is only one track that actually pushes 2 minutes. Now I have never been one to criticize lengths for two reasons. Number one, I think that the length of an album adds to the character of it. Take Kid Dynamite, I am sure that they made sure that their albums barely push 30 minutes despite having 20 tracks for a reason. Reason number two, in my dive into the punk genre, I think I have become desensitized to short albums. Short albums have just become a way of life for me. But, hell, NOFX did a song longer than this album. Sometimes it seems over before it even began.

Other than that, “Twilight” is a great album. Great finish huh?

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Posted by BisonChris on 2006-11-19 19:15:01

great band too bad they broke up

Posted by FortyMinutesWest on 2003-03-26 19:42:47
My Score:

You have a talking asshole?

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 26, 2003 at 5:11 PM (EST)
My Score:

the hope conspiracy is ill- suicide file sucks balls. i felt so ripped off after i paid for this garbage. more thoughtful and intelligent lyrics come out of my asshole.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 25, 2003 at 3:38 PM (EST)
My Score:

Great band. Decent release.

im still holding on,
-feedmynightmare

Posted by FortyMinutesWest on 2003-03-24 20:21:16
My Score:

I didnt like Aaron's delivery at first either, but I like it now, I think it's an acquired taste kind of. And check them out live, it's insane.

Posted by GreenVandal on 2003-03-24 15:25:20
My Score:

Well I have never saw either of these bands live, which is actually a unfair assessment on my part. But, on recordings, yeah. It sounds like they are just talking loud.

Posted by FortyMinutesWest on 2003-03-24 14:08:26
My Score:

Aaron Bedard not having energy? You must be insane.

Posted by GreenVandal on 2003-03-24 11:00:29
My Score:

Why do all modern hardcore bands have such terrible singers? Bands like Strife had singers that screamed, but for some reason it fit in well. I just cant dig this guys voice at all. Same with Bane. Just sounds like they have no energy at all. And he strays from the songs beat sometimes.

Posted by ianXisXpositive on 2003-03-24 10:18:27
My Score:

i was actually pretty let down by this album. the s/t 7" is fucking rediculous and i was expecting more of the same from the LP. i walked away from it kind of dissapointed but i still love this band. they're great live and i'm sure they'll put out more stuff that's up to their level like the first ep.

if you haven't heard this band listen to the song "kissinger", it's great.

Posted by pope_schlomo on 2003-03-23 00:54:42
My Score:

My friend said this album is pretty cool. Looks like I'm going to "borrow" it from him.

Ramo
(J.Alex rules)

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, March 22, 2003 at 6:18 PM (EST)
My Score:

It's a pretty good record but the songs and lyrics from the s/t are much better.

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, March 22, 2003 at 1:06 PM (EST)
My Score:

yeah, they are definitly a rock n roll band, but they almost seem to have more punk stylings than the hope conspiracy. granted, that's not a very good description, but i think it works ok.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 21, 2003 at 6:24 PM (EST)
My Score:

that comment below was by me. sorry.

-pwfanatic

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 21, 2003 at 6:23 PM (EST)
My Score:

i submitted this review maybe 2 and a half to 3 weeks ago after i gave it 3-4 listens and that was the hope conspiracy was the first thing that popped into my head when i tried to give an easy generalization of what they sound like. now that i have owned the album and given it more listens, i agree with you guys, it doesn't hold as well as i used to think.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 21, 2003 at 2:43 PM (EST)
My Score:

this album is fucking ridiculously good. best band in hardcore right now. period.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 21, 2003 at 2:06 PM (EST)
My Score:

yeah, i don't buy the hope conspiracy comparison either, i'd say they have a more rock n' roll feel, maybe a bit more of an old school sound, but props for reviewing them anyways.

such an ill band.

- BITTER

Posted by recordings on 2003-03-21 12:25:48
My Score:

they actually did a 7 inch split with hope conspiracy not too long ago. good stuff.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 21, 2003 at 4:21 AM (EST)
My Score:

Your review depicts(?) them as a standard hardcore band. Personally i find them more rockin as other hardcore bands and the comparison between Hope Conspiracy and Suicide File is just crazy. Totally different vibe...
Both great bands though...pick this up!!

Posted by FortyMinutesWest on 2003-03-21 03:52:25
My Score:

This band kicks ass.

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