Punknews.orgPunknews.org Logo
Vinyl Collective
Vinyl Collective
Review Navigator

BackForward

Features

 




Reviews

Epitaph Records -- Millencolin

Some bands just have it. You know, zip, zork, kapowza. Champion is most certainly one of those bands. After releasing a couple of really solid EPs, and making a name for themselves, this Washington hardcore band finally decided to grace us with an LP.

If you’ve heard this band’s past material, you have a good idea of what to expect from this release. Champion plays fast, melodic hardcore with positive lyrics. That’s where “it” comes in. There are quite a few bands playing hardcore these days, and even more playing updated versions of older sounds. Still, Champion has that spark. The album’s title track kicks things off, as it slowly builds to the boiling point, from that point on, this album will own you. The energy that flows through the speakers is infectious; this isn’t the kind of album you listen to while you’re studying. “Promises Kept” just refuses to be made into background music, it’s hard to sit still, and it’s even harder not to sing along. These songs are tailor-made for live shows it seems, but they also work well for one person sing-a-longs in the car.

The positive lyrics are simply stated, but that only make them all the more effective. The songs deal with the topics that you’d expect: friendship, moving on, you know, the usual. Still I can’t help but like lines like “We can always remember the past, but we only get one shot at today.” Some of this could sound overdone if it wasn’t delivered with such force and conviction, but luckily, Champion never goes over the top.

I hear lots of hardcore albums. I hear lots of albums in general, but I still have to appreciate the bands that do it this well. Champion has actually exceeded my expectations with this release, and I can’t imagine why anyone who enjoys melodic hardcore wouldn’t dig this album.

MP3:The Truth



People who liked this also liked:
This Is Hell - SundowningChampion - Count Our NumbersBane - It All Comes Down To ThisComeback Kid - Turn It AroundAgainst Me! - is Reinventing Axl RoseAgainst Me! - As The Eternal CowboyRuiner - What Could Possibly Go Right...Sinking Ships - DisconnectingComeback Kid - Wake The DeadDescendents - Milo Goes To College



Please login or register to post comments.
What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?
  • Share your opinion by posting comments on the stories that interest you
  • Rate music and bands and help shape the weekly top ten
  • Let Punknews.org use your ratings to help you find bands and albums you might like
  • Customize features on the site to get the news the way you want.

    Posted by LookingBack on 2007-05-03 17:05:01

    I wonder what my favorite song on this album was...

    Posted by JMafockink on 2006-09-22 08:51:38
    My Score:

    Possibly one of the best hardcore albums i've come across in a long time..

    "Miles to go" in my opinion is the best track on this cd.

    A must buy for any true hardcore fan.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, May 21, 2006 at 1:32 PM (EDT)

    is one of the best album hc in this time

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 19, 2006 at 9:24 PM (EDT)

    why dont you guys cut some slack for a good band, they may not be COS but they are good at what they do

    Posted by Sally_Field on 2005-04-21 16:48:04

    The "zork" thing made me lose it.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 14, 2004 at 10:11 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    A message to sxe kids:

    "What exactly are you pointing at?"

    -Ken

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 14, 2004 at 7:56 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    They did a Chain Of Strength cover when I saw em the other week.

    Fucking quality show, much better than the last time I saw them.

    The frontman was born to be the frontman of a hardcore band. Even tho he's got a baby face.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 12, 2004 at 8:58 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    they do sound like COS.

    but this review sucked. boo.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 11, 2004 at 5:48 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    i can't believe another year's gone by...

    Posted by vocalyouth on 2004-11-11 14:25:42
    My Score:

    my favorite hardcore album of the year. this kind of stuff is my favorite in the world of hardcore, though.

    I'd rather listen to this album 10 times in a row before I'd put in beatdown mosh bands like Terror or Hatebreed (not that I hate that stuff, i'd just rather listen to this)

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 11, 2004 at 12:47 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    too deep... too deep for words until now....

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 11, 2004 at 11:59 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    errr...........Atari were better

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 11, 2004 at 6:10 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    champion are a really good band

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 10, 2004 at 11:20 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    yes way!

    Posted by janeandfinch on 2004-11-10 20:31:15
    My Score:

    like chain of strength? no way!

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 10, 2004 at 12:23 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Good stuff. Not ground-breaking, but solid.

    -ObeyYourParents

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 10, 2004 at 3:18 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    I've always been into this style more than the DADA-dada-DADA-dada- EERR BLEEH ERR BLEEH-crusty hardcore. This sounds like a really really really awesome ignite. DAMN I NEED THIS CD!

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 10, 2004 at 2:18 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    Great band, Great album, Australian tour in December! hell yes!
    Hey Chris from Perth, musically they're really similar to Miles Away but with more gang shouts and straight edge lyrics. ENJOY!

    Posted by FortyMinutesWest on 2004-11-10 01:28:41
    My Score:

    Yeah, it's definitely in the vein of older stuff. As for newer bands, they have more in common with Count Me Out than the bands you mentioned.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 9, 2004 at 10:55 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    saw this band a few years ago with Bane and Over My dead Body, i thought they were great, but a little to heavy on the straight edge preaching...

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 9, 2004 at 10:48 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    it's in the vein of chain of strength.

    Posted by bemused on 2004-11-09 22:42:18
    My Score:

    Thankyou Mr FortyMinutesWest.

    I was undecided as to whether I would go watch them when they come to Perth. I am definitely in attendence after this review.

    Who do they sound like though, you say melodic hardcore, but is this in the vein of a harder Strike Anywhere or A Wilhelm Scream or in the vein of Comeback Kid???

    -Chris-

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 9, 2004 at 9:18 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    yeah, they do have the spark. much like the suicide file. not many bands can do the old school thing and have the passion and energy to make it sound fresh and not just like retread boring crap.

    Posted by killyouridols on 2004-11-09 18:10:51
    My Score:

    this band kills live.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 9, 2004 at 5:55 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Oh yeah, this is so fucking good. AWESOME really. Seeing them in a week with comeback kid, it should be a riot. /melvyl.

    Posted by FortyMinutesWest on 2004-11-09 17:17:39
    My Score:

    I have "This Is For You."

    Posted by pwfanatic on 2004-11-09 15:47:35
    My Score:

    this score is for their live show.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 9, 2004 at 3:31 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    4 stars!? like its really that good.
    go pick up an internal affairs records and listen to some good new hardcore

    © 1999-2006 Punknews.org • Terms of Use • Privacy • FAQ • About • ISSN 1710-5366 • RSS RSS Icon