Slapshot

Slapshot: Digital WarfareDigital Warfare (2003)
Bridge Nine Records

Reviewer Rating: 3.5

User Rating:

Contributed by: FortyMinutesWestFortyMinutesWest
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on April 13th 2004This is one those bands that it seems like everyone has heard of, but not as quite as many people have heard. Despite Slapshot's longevity and continued perseverance, this band seems to always get snubbed when people talk about hardcore bands. I'll admit, I've always had a soft spot for these guys.

This is one those bands that it seems like everyone has heard of, but not as quite as many people have heard. Despite Slapshot's longevity and continued perseverance, this band seems to always get snubbed when people talk about hardcore bands. I'll admit, I've always had a soft spot for these guys, considering their name is a reference to my favorite sport and second favorite movie of all time. But, just like any other band, they'd have to have more than just a cool name to get in my good graces. Luckily, I've enjoyed most of the stuff this band has done, and this album is really no different.

The thing that really strikes me about this release is how revitalized this band sounds. Their past few releases weren't really as aggressive as their earlier material, but they sound like a new band on here. Not that they've changed their sound, or that they don't sound seasoned, but they just come out of the gate with the intensity of some kids who are recording their first album. If you haven't heard Slapshot before, they play pretty typical Boston hardcore, fast, unpolished and spiteful, and they do a good job of it. Choke still has the scratchiest voice this side of Dave Manson (obligatory hockey reference #1), and the band still plays with fury.

The lyrics, as would be expected, are pretty ridiculous, but I'm not grading this band based on intellectual merit. If you don't take them too seriously it won't be a problem. You'd think a band that's been around for as long as this one would have more recognition by now. This band has been around almost as long as Mark Messier, but they get treated like Pierre Sevigny (obligatory hockey references #2 and #3).

So there you have it, bands have come and gone, but Slapshot remains standing firm. While their peers seem to disappear with Blaine Lacher-like regularity (obligatory hockey reference #4), Slapshot has stuck around. They might not be Youth of Today or Minor Threat, but they deserve to be respected, if you dig this style of hardcore, you should give this band a listen.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Anonymous (April 20, 2004)

Yeah!!! WP IS KKKOOL!

2man > Slapshitstains

Anonymous (April 18, 2004)

seeing as how this is a slapshot review that doesnt matter.

Anonymous (April 18, 2004)

i dont know why, i just can't get into em'. i love most old school core, i just dont like slapstick.... oh well.

boba_fett (April 17, 2004)

habs vs bruins... game 7 heaven baby...

TheMarc (April 17, 2004)

Fuck you, Detroit.

Anonymous (April 17, 2004)

SLAPSHOT were killing it back in the day, when the majority of you new jacks were shitting in your huggies.

One of the best HARDCORE bands ever!

This score is for Sudden Death Overtime.

Anonymous (April 16, 2004)

i've always wanted to know why punk/hardcore and hockey went together. but oh well, go hockey rock.

GO LEAFS GO!

boba_fett (April 16, 2004)

Booyah! habs are back in business!

FortyMinutesWest (April 15, 2004)

I'm tired of the Blues, playoffs every year, yet they never do anything.

TheMarc (April 15, 2004)

Why do the Blues always get shit on?! Longest playoff streak, zero Cups. Other Western Conference teams better look out, because the Sharks look pretty good...

Anonymous (April 15, 2004)

hell yeah! who mentioned Two Man!
how could there NOT be mention of Two Man with all this hockey talk?

Anonymous (April 15, 2004)

Gang Green is playing around.

Anonymous (April 15, 2004)

This score is for Fucking Manowar. That shit is mint.

-Wells

ElVaquero (April 15, 2004)

I'm trying not to remember thank you very much.

As long as Detroit doesn't win I'm happy. It's kinda scary how much of a chance Nashville actually has right now. Kinda funny too.

FortyMinutesWest (April 14, 2004)

It's not over yet, remember a few years ago, the Flyers were up 3-1 and lost anyway.

As long as Philly or Detroit doesn't win the cup, I'm happy.

ElVaquero (April 14, 2004)

their playing is boring (defense blows). the devils got fucking taken. it's done. over. move on.

boba_fett (April 14, 2004)

im with you on that one vandals. GO DEVILS!

and now we bring you the comments of how their style is boring.

GreenVandal (April 14, 2004)

The Devils rule all and you all know it. Brodeur is like a more intimidating version of jesus. Well a more intimidating canadian version of jesus. I guess canadian and intimidating cancel each other out though...

GO DEVILS!

Anonymous (April 14, 2004)

Gang Green?

boba_fett (April 14, 2004)

hockey being discussed in here? im down with this.

here's my take:

Mad that Habs won't pull it off, now cheering for calgary (small market canadian teams for life!)

pick for the cup: Leafs. they may be old and i dont want them to win but they have a complete team... just so long as heart attacks can be avoided.

who i want to win the cup: calgary or new jersey, but i doubt new jersey will make it against philly. without stevens, nj just isnt the same. brodeur will move to colorado at some point in the coming years. im 100% sure that he'll be leaving nj now that stevens is gonna retire (hasnt been announced but with a lockout looming, its almost a certainty). best goalie in the league now? brodeur. come next season (whenever that is) teams will be making offers.

fucking habs... i've been a believer for my whole life, and i keep getting let down. but being a true fan: THERE'S ALWAYS NEXT YEAR!

ElVaquero (April 14, 2004)

forty, fate will be decided in one hour.

Anonymous (April 14, 2004)

Blaine Lacher-like regularity ... that's fucking funny! And in Slapshot's case, unfortunately true.

Jay Fat City
Vote For The Greatest Hockey Song Of All Time

Anonymous (April 14, 2004)

i'd take The Freeze any day over these guys if we're talking about older Boston Bands. i bought a reissue of one of slapshot's first albums and a listen and a half later it started collecting dust on my shelf.

Anonymous (April 14, 2004)

Choke used to be in Stars and Stripes ... go and find their Lyrics somewhere and then tell me he`s not an idiot ... I wouldn`t say he`s racist for sure, but an undeniable he`s an idiot!

FortyMinutesWest (April 14, 2004)

"New Jersey will not be able to get out the hole.

...or so I pray. "

Now that the Devils know Esche's weakness(stick side), he's done for.

slippy (April 13, 2004)

Sick as in it sucked, which my score now reflects.

slippy (April 13, 2004)

holy shit, did ya'll just see Nashville drop the Red Wings? That shit was sick.

sean_o (April 13, 2004)

Slapshot f'n rules.
I remember talking to... shit, forget his name.. the guitarist of KITH at warped this year about their greatets hits album....
I tried starting a "Play some Slapshot!" chant and the DKM st paddy's show I went to.. one other guy joined in.

Choke's gay. Not jsut cause he's a hairdresser, but he is.

This band f'n rocks.

THIS IS BOSTON NOT LA!

Anonymous (April 13, 2004)

Eh, give me fucking Negative FX or Jerry's kids anyday over these dudes.

-Ken

Anonymous (April 13, 2004)

"They should combine bands, change their name to ShotStick, and play hardcore ska."

That would be the greatest thing ever...

-c22

Romeo (April 13, 2004)

Mark Messi....who?

haha!!! April fools.

Go AVs

gladimnotemo (April 13, 2004)

SlapSTICK = Skacore

This band = not skacore

They should combine bands, change their name to ShotStick, and play hardcore ska.

Anonymous (April 13, 2004)

2 man advantage is so much better than these asscolwns

Anonymous (April 13, 2004)

This and the some kind of hate album kick ass. Nice to see some bands trying to bring back the good 80's American Hardcore, whether they were orignally from that era or not.

ElVaquero (April 13, 2004)

New Jersey will not be able to get out the hole.

...or so I pray.

I pick Colorado and Philadelphia in the finals.

Anonymous (April 13, 2004)

SlapSTICK = Skacore

This band = not skacore

Anonymous (April 13, 2004)

Argh, this review tells me little about the record aside from they sound "new".

Good hockey references though, made the review entertaining at least.

GYBE (April 13, 2004)

And this score is for Slapshot 2

GYBE (April 13, 2004)

Score is for the movie.

gladimnotemo (April 13, 2004)

I thought Slapshot was a skacore band.

hitlerbadzakgood (April 13, 2004)

slapshot is awesome. this album owns.

Anonymous (April 13, 2004)

Unless you're happy nationalism tainted the hardcore scene!

-Uncle Sam

Anonymous (April 13, 2004)

Choke's racist scum.

-BSD