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Various

Point Break Volume 1 (2002)
Sidecho Records

Reviewer Rating:

Contributed by: FortyMinutesWest
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on May 13th 2003

Compilations are usually a mixed bag; you get some tracks you love, some you hate, and others that don't move you either way. Here, SideCho has given us a sort of hardcore, metalcore, etc. starter kit. The inaugural volume of Point Break features tracks from bands such as In Flames, Give Up The Ghost(billed as American Nothing or American Nightmare on some copies), Thrice, Ensign, Avenged Sevenfold, Shadows Fall, and Soilwork.

There is something for almost everyone here. If you are trying to get into any of the aforementioned genres and you aren't familiar with the bands on this comp, this is a must buy. The people at SideCho did a really good job of picking a variety of songs and artists here. It's kind of strange to hear Ensign wedged between In Flames and Meshuggah, but that's just a testament to the level of diversity on here. The standout tracks on here would probably be: Soilwork-"Follow the Hollow", Stretch Armstrong-"For the Record", and Give Up The Ghost-"AM/PM". The Soilwork track is a fine example of this band's style of melodic metal, if you're into that genre and you don't know Soilwork, be sure to check them out. Kudos to SideCho for picking this Stretch Armstrong song, in my opinion is one of the best and most fun to sing positive hardcore songs in recent memory. The Give Up The Ghost track, is as expected, a fast aggressive song about heartache that is punctuated by Wes Eisold's trademark throat-ripping vocals.

With all the positives about this album, there is one glaring flaw. Most, if not all of these songs have seen the light of day on other releases, some have even appeared on various other compilations. If you're already familiar with most of these bands, chances are, almost none of these songs are new to you. However, like I said earlier, for someone that is new to these genres, this compilation is a veritable treasure trove of quality and diversity.

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Anonymous (May 18, 2003)

"Good guess, huh? Fuck, why can't I ever say what I mean!?"

Point Break rules.
Ever notice that the characters and plot are essetially the same as Fast and the Furious? Think about it...

FortyMinutesWest (May 17, 2003)

Thrice(although they claim not to be), The Young and The Useless,Crimson Thorn(Christian Death metal?)..

Anonymous (May 17, 2003)

Hahahaha. Very well then. What other Christian bands do you approve of?

FortyMinutesWest (May 17, 2003)

U prolly liek limp bizscuit~!1! OMG LOL!

Anonymous (May 17, 2003)

u prolly like papa roach

FortyMinutesWest (May 16, 2003)

No, because while their songs may have christian undertones, they don't suck like Relient K, MXPX, etc.

Anonymous (May 16, 2003)

Oooooh, c'mon Forty Minutes, Stretch Armstrong is a Christian band, shouldn't you be mocking them?

Anonymous (May 13, 2003)

This your fucking wake-up call! i am an fbi agent!

Anonymous (May 13, 2003)

Since when does talent determine who should be on a comp together? You're a dick.

FortyMinutesWest (May 13, 2003)

I like Thrice and Give Up The Ghost. But then again I love Meshuggah, In Flames, Soilwork, etc. so I think this comp was a good idea.

Anonymous (May 13, 2003)

New In Flames CD kinda weak? Its their heviest to date.

Sure, it isn't a throw back to old school Gothenburg Melodic Death Metal, but its a step forward, and fucking heavy as shit. This CD, excluding one or two tracks, stems directly from earlier songs such as Pinball Map, and Clayman. Their heaviest on previous releases.

Now, if you're talking about quality, you might have a point. Yet, a weak, in quality, In Flames CD still sets them so much higher than bands featured on this Compilation. Thrice? Give up the Ghost? Come on, they've got nothing on In Flames, and definently don't deserve to even be mentioned in the same review, yet alone be on the same CD.

The Musicianship and writing from those bands is child's play compared to the all boys from Sweden (including Soilwork and Meshuggah). Laughable even.

fatman (May 13, 2003)

Point Break...good moive...

fAt mAn

FortyMinutesWest (May 13, 2003)

"In Flames, Meshuggah, and Soilwork eat all those other shitty bands for breakfest"

I don't know, the new In Flames CD was kind of weak(for them).

Anonymous (May 13, 2003)

I like Soilwork cuz kevin wade said so.

Ramo
(now where's my money?)

Anonymous (May 13, 2003)

(Score is for death metal)

In Flames, Meshuggah, and Soilwork eat all those other shitty bands for breakfest.

Why the hell are they on a comp with fucking Thrice, Ensign, Give up the Ghost, and all those other piece of shit bands!?!