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No Trigger / Wasteland

Split (2004)
self-released

Reviewer Rating:

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

Published on October 26th 2004

No Trigger is the best melodic hardcore/punk rock band you're not listening to.

Unless of course you took my advice in a certain past news post, you're probably unfamiliar with the ridiculous development this band has gone through, morphing in about a year from "a decent Strike Anywhere ripoff with some potential" to "the best unsigned hardcore punk band this side of the Mississippi." The three songs they contribute here to their split with Wasteland are in a word, breathtaking. No Trigger has developed an identity all their own while upping the ante on intelligence, catchiness, and aggressiveness.

"What We Became" is a fantastic opener, asking in their own words why gay marriage isn't a widely-established right, replete with screamed backups, a jumping bass line, dueling guitars and range-exploring vocals mixing up things even more. The blistering intensity of "North American" starts with accentuated shouts stating "NOT AMERICAN, BARELY NORTH AMERICAN!," hitting you for a straight minute and a half until your muscles are sore to the touch, even coming packaged complete with a floorpunching breakdown that should have a good number of your camo short-clad friends two-stepping across the length of the floor at your local VFW hall. The trilogy goes out with a bang of "Big-" proportions: "Earthtones," a near four-minute declaration that quietly slaps environmental apathy in the face, with the sincere chorus of "another step for man and I'm sick of getting stepped on," showcasing the basically perfect vocals of Tom Rheault: hardcore passion mixed with a punk-pop sensibility, who closes out the song forcibly shouting "Am I the only touched by the setting sun?" I'll give you a nickel if you can find a better way to spend nine minutes than with this trio of songs.

Now that I've regurgitated every slight bit of the near-maximum enjoyability I consistently get out of their side of the split onto paper (or web page documentation, whatever), I should probably mention the other side. Wasteland is scathing hardcore that isn't half-bad. The band essentially plays early 80s-influenced hardcore, with constant, sneering screams from what reminds me of a more reckless version of Wes from Give Up The Ghost, going balls-out against grainy but textured guitars, rough to the touch and dark and moody to the unseeing eye. I can't imagine this band playing live (or recording, for that matter) in well-lit areas, as nothing more than sparsely-lucent, rotting basements fit their sound. The lyrics mix dramatic "emo" metaphors and utterly all-hope-lost decrees, nicely subtle in their politicized efforts like the lines "blessed be this parody, in the guise of self repression, spitting mindless quarrels, and advertising passions. All this fucking talk about the proud and the brave, I see groups of frightened pawns who've grown placid and naive." Quality.

This split is worth your precious attention. While Wasteland is a worthy competitor, No Trigger are slowly leaving a wake of positive destruction in their path, and they still don't even have an official release in their discography yet (read: non CD-R). Most definitely worth checking out.

MP3s
No Trigger - What We Became
No Trigger - North American
No Trigger - Earthtones
STREAM
Wasteland - The Long Kiss Goodnight
Wasteland - Define Irony

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Anonymous (November 24, 2005)

you can't win http://www.trinitytc.com/888/casino-directory-2005.html

Anonymous (November 1, 2004)

www.asianmanrecords.com

Anonymous (October 30, 2004)

Way

Anonymous (October 30, 2004)

No Way

Anonymous (October 29, 2004)

something smells like ocoin around here.

Anonymous (October 29, 2004)

"They didn't save shit, they're just good. Wasteland are good too, you're a faggot. End of story."

Sir/Madame,

I must disagree with your accusation. No Trigger have certainly pioneered a sound that has forever altered the sonic landscape of punk rock, perhaps you just can't come to terms with this, for that I am sorry. But lo, a generation of punkers have been brought from the cold and mysterious world of a stagnant spiritual descent, and have found a new light within The Trigger. Though of course, Wasteland can not be good, for their super cliche shit is mad whack, and lest a sonic death sentence be forced upon any listener who darest enter a room of poser ass shit such as their product, yo.

In conclusion, using words like "faggot" will not be acceptable in the course of things to come, and a dragon will eat your bitch ass homophobic soul.

Anonymous (October 28, 2004)

Holy shit, No Trigger is one of my new favorite bands now. It's official, SOMEONE SIGN THEM!

Anonymous (October 27, 2004)

I'm pretty jaded...but this no trigger is good, damn good.

Anonymous (October 27, 2004)

No Trigger is P.I.M.P.

Anonymous (October 27, 2004)

This guys a tool:

"Isn't it weird how a band that sucks so bad like Wasteland can do a split with a band that has single handedly saved Hardcore/Punk like No Trigger? I mean, Christ, who do these assholes in Wasteland think they are? Cliche breakdowns and super lame lyrics/vocals make for a strong shit in the pants from this discerning punk listener. I've just about had it with bands that name their songs after bad action movies directed by that fucking hack Renny Harlin. Fucking jerk offs should die.

The four stars are for the Trig not for the Waste, which is what it is, a waste. I of course refer to the Wasteland side and not the No Trigger side. What I'm trying to say is the Wasteland side belongs in the trash, and the No Trigger side attains sweet Nirvana, in a Buddhist sort of way and certainly not in a Christian sort of way, but I'm not refering to Nirvana the band, cause they are gay, unless that rules, I'm refering to spiritual concepts that are more enlightened than monotheism. Unless that is currently on par with hating on select entities, i guess... I read a book once."

They didn't save shit, they're just good. Wasteland are good too, you're a faggot. End of story.

boba_fett (October 27, 2004)

score is for No Trigger. fucking A.

bizzlebrizzle (October 27, 2004)

Am I the only one who enjoyed Wasteland as well?

since94 (October 27, 2004)

It sucks that purevolume doesn't give me any sound here at work. I've been wanting to listen to these guys for a while now....

johnrambo (October 27, 2004)

yer a shitty cover.

dazed (October 27, 2004)

No Trigger side is pretty great.

Both of the Wasteland songs I streamed remind me of the last Disaster EP, which is pretty good, until the ridiculous slowed down "mosh" parts at the end which kind of messes up the whole song. Why stop being fast?

Etienne (October 27, 2004)

No Triger is so fucking impressive.

Anonymous (October 27, 2004)

Isn't it weird how a band that sucks so bad like Wasteland can do a split with a band that has single handedly saved Hardcore/Punk like No Trigger? I mean, Christ, who do these assholes in Wasteland think they are? Cliche breakdowns and super lame lyrics/vocals make for a strong shit in the pants from this discerning punk listener. I've just about had it with bands that name their songs after bad action movies directed by that fucking hack Renny Harlin. Fucking jerk offs should die.

The four stars are for the Trig not for the Waste, which is what it is, a waste. I of course refer to the Wasteland side and not the No Trigger side. What I'm trying to say is the Wasteland side belongs in the trash, and the No Trigger side attains sweet Nirvana, in a Buddhist sort of way and certainly not in a Christian sort of way, but I'm not refering to Nirvana the band, cause they are gay, unless that rules, I'm refering to spiritual concepts that are more enlightened than monotheism. Unless that is currently on par with hating on select entities, i guess... I read a book once.