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Bars

Introducing...
2004
Equal Vision

Bars - Introducing... (Cover Artwork)


Review by: pwfanatic
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Equal Vision (link)

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Equal Vision Records (Logo)

Published on November 2nd 2004

When I saw on the FrontPage that Give Up the Ghost broke up, I wasn’t too happy. With Hope Conspiracy’s long legal influenced hiatus, my hardcore world has been a bit empty. Enter with such a force that it makes me want to cry tears of joy, Bars.

Featuring the screams of Kevin Baker (Hope Conspiracy), the guitars of Tim Cossar (Give Up the Ghost), and the maniac that is Jarrod Alexander (ex-Death by Stereo, but more importantly, Suicide File – damn, I miss that band) along with a couple of other hardcore guys filling up the other guitar and bass, Bars are a hardcore heavyweight that the world has never seen before.

The opening track off Introducing… “Bright Lights For Demise” starts off fast and furiously, properly dictating the pace of most of the album to come. It features some excellent genre bending guitar riffs with some of the solos reminiscent of the rock and roll influenced styling of Suicide File. Baker has a scream destined for hardcore, and he is perfectly complimented by the rest of the band. The drums don’t just simply rely on double bass or constant crash cymbals, the guitars are doing more than simply chugging along, and the bass follows splendidly. At only 29 minutes, the boys of The Bars do not waste anytime with fancy intros, outros, or mindless filler. Introducing… is a lethal barrage of stripped down rock and roll that never decides if it is hardcore, hardcore punk, or metal.

However, they don’t really need to decide anything. Many of the guitar hooks are subtle little ones that almost get drowned out by the subtle touches from all the other musicians. “Up To My Neck” features some excellent guitar work, but most of it doesn’t take center stage until Cossar launches into a little simple guitar solo that leads into an excellent finish to the song. Other songs like “Toecutter” plod along with the weight of the world on their shoulders. It slowly beats along with Baker screaming “day by day by day/take us to the grave/day by day by day/how can I be saved?” There isn’t much special about the song and one of the few instrumental outros on the album is well suited to the song as it plows along and fades into nothingness.

But just as quickly as it fades, “The Frequencies are Fucked” comes blistering in with fast paced hardcore punk/hardcore that relentlessly batters you back into a frenzy. The way in which Bars are able to make these transitions is fantastic. Each song is no longer than it should be and the album manages to flow completely through despite the genre shifting throughout its entirety. This slow and steady to loud and heavy shift is more evident in the transition between the last two tracks on the album, each at over four minutes.

With Introducing… The Bars have made quite the album. Even with all the slight genre bending that takes place, these guys truly are a hardcore band, as their place on the Equal Vision roster might suggest. Fans that mourn the loss of Suicide File, Give Up the Ghost, and (to a certain degree) the Hope Conspiracy as I do have to drop everything and check these guys out. This album has done a better job of staying in my stereo more than anything other new band I have listened to lately.



People who liked this also liked:
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    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 19, 2004 at 1:05 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    This band sounds like the Bronx... no complaints, just not quite what I was hoping for in a hardcore "supergroup". oh well.

    Posted by Piebalding on 2004-11-19 10:06:38
    My Score:

    Oh yeah, and Matt Woods plays bass, who also played bass in GUTG, so put him in that namedropping part of the actual review.

    Posted by Piebalding on 2004-11-19 10:04:43
    My Score:

    This is one badass album! I was a little down that Give Up The Ghost broke up and that The Hope Conspiracy aren't really doing much as of late. This album makes me forget those woes. An awesome punk n' roll album w/ the members' hardcore influences definitely showing on this album as well. Think a heavier version of The Bronx and you're on the right track.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, November 8, 2004 at 11:26 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    judge rules but this shit isnt girl jean hardcore. you probably like embrace today and one up. this shit fucking rules.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, November 8, 2004 at 4:59 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Yo this is hardcore for kids with long fringes and girls jeans.
    Go listen to Judge you motherfuckers

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 6, 2004 at 2:56 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    HOLY CRAP. I just bought this album (thanks to the review) and it's fucking rocking my world.

    OC

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 5, 2004 at 5:39 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    This record is like Stove-Top stuffing. Crusty on the outside, and razory goodness in the middle.

    Victory Records is the new "pink" this year. Better buy up!

    -healthymon

    Posted by dazed on 2004-11-05 03:09:49
    My Score:

    Actually this sounds very interesting, and I like the mp3.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 5, 2004 at 1:59 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    Has Scott really liked anything lately? I also don't remember him being so tactless when he was part of this site... now he just dispenses grade school insults.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 4, 2004 at 3:41 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    bunch of bitches on this site, this record is awesome. stop whining.

    Posted by soulbleed on 2004-11-04 15:28:28
    My Score:

    This record is probably the best thing EV has released all year. EV actually is turning into the new Victory, Scotty's right. Don't make fun of him for liking good bands with longevity just because he's not like you assclowns to cream all over every band and forget about them a week later. Ten bucks says this band falls into that category.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 4, 2004 at 3:13 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Scott, stop talking about victory, you discovered the label 2 years ago when they released the first TBS record. fuck you, you like the shittiest band ever

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 4, 2004 at 3:12 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    scott is to fat as this band is to rock

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 4, 2004 at 3:11 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    This record was so lame. Equal Vision is the new Victory.

    -Scott

    Again, seriously man, you dont know shit. you think youre so cool with those smart-ass comments. fuck you.

    Maybe the reviewer could have mentioned the Red Chord guitarist is in the band too.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 4, 2004 at 3:11 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    "This record was so lame. Equal Vision is the new Victory.

    -Scott"

    This coming from a guy that craps himself over Motion City Soundtrack and Jimmy Eat World. Go back to sucking cock through your rolled up AP magazine Maverick. You're no good.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 4, 2004 at 2:27 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    let's see The Bars try to write a song that can surpass one of motion city soundtrack's.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 4, 2004 at 12:11 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    cool name punkcorekid

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 at 11:09 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    PLEASE stop starting reviews with:

    Enter [so and so].

    It's not profound. It's PLAYED OUT and completely CLICHE.

    THX!

    Posted by punkcorekid on 2004-11-03 21:34:36
    My Score:

    i'm surprised they actually play hardcore. it seems when most ex hardcore guys get together it's shitty radio rock.

    Posted by SethCohen on 2004-11-03 18:56:41
    My Score:

    You cannot forget the most important band Jarrod Alexander has been in...JamisonParker. They bring the rock

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 at 6:07 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    i bought this a few days ago and i think it's really good.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 at 3:52 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    "This record was so lame. Equal Vision is the new Victory.

    -Scott"

    This coming from a guy that craps himself over Motion City Soundtrack and Jimmy Eat World. Go back to sucking cock through your rolled up AP magazine Maverick. You're no good.

    Posted by johnnydanger on 2004-11-03 13:56:18
    My Score:

    scott is to fat as this band is to rock

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 at 9:57 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    i saw this band open for the dwarves recently and it was BORING

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 at 9:50 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    Scott is LARGE and IN CHARGE!

    Scott for prez! That up there is his new catchy slogan!

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 at 7:05 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    yummy!

    Posted by pwfanatic on 2004-11-03 02:51:44
    My Score:

    awesome, can't wait for new thc shit. to the guy below me, i didn't know that so thanks for filling me in.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 at 1:22 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    This record was so lame. Equal Vision is the new Victory.

    -Scott

    Again, seriously man, you dont know shit. you think youre so cool with those smart-ass comments. fuck you.

    Maybe the reviewer could have mentioned the Red Chord guitarist is in the band too.

    Posted by recordings on 2004-11-03 00:55:05
    My Score:

    to pwfanatic:

    "in hope con news, we have been writing some new jams and they rule. look for some of them to surface towards the beginning of 2005"

    from www.thehopeconspiracy.net
    (and to that one guy, you can read about their legal shit there also)

    Posted by bizzlebrizzle on 2004-11-02 23:56:32
    My Score:

    "With Hope Conspiracy’s long legal influenced hiatus"

    can someone fill me in? i must have missed that.


    THC got sued cuz a fan got hurt at their show.

    Posted by bizzlebrizzle on 2004-11-02 23:55:49
    My Score:

    Not as good as THC

    Posted by pwfanatic on 2004-11-02 23:52:47
    My Score:

    "does anyone know if hope con's new album is stll due for 2005? christ its been an eternity."

    i wasn't even aware they had gotten that far. i figured that they were done for after that whole lawsuit thing.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 2, 2004 at 11:52 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    "With Hope Conspiracy’s long legal influenced hiatus"

    can someone fill me in? i must have missed that.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 2, 2004 at 11:27 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    equal vision is a piece of shit. and what the fuck kind of name is the Bars?

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 2, 2004 at 11:15 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Equal Vision has cranked out some real crap recently.

    Posted by maverick on 2004-11-02 23:04:38
    My Score:

    This record was so lame. Equal Vision is the new Victory.

    -Scott

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 2, 2004 at 10:52 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    i miss the suicide file too : (

    i want this cd.

    Posted by recordings on 2004-11-02 22:41:10
    My Score:

    this album is very very good. i do agree that the tempo could be picked up just a tad, but as a whole this definately fills my hope con/suicide file void.

    does anyone know if hope con's new album is stll due for 2005? christ its been an eternity.

    Posted by TheOneTrueBill on 2004-11-02 22:31:25
    My Score:

    I like the album, but would it have killed them to write a few faster songs?