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As far as I currently know, Holland is good for one thing, and one thing only: Amsterdam, the modern day haven for any sort of illegal (in the States) activity that one can think of. The Dutch are also apparently pretty well-versed in the ways of old-school hardcore. Wait -- the Dutch? Hardcore? It’s true; Restless Youth’s State Of Confusion EP has turned a band who started out playing Bad Brains covers for fun into a full-fledged blast of grit and exuberance.

The EP is a double whammy of hardcore goodness, with State Of Confusion starting with 6 new songs, and also including the now out of print Bad Trip demo. It's eleven songs in all, but the EP itself barely breaks the 17-minute mark. Short, sweet, and energetic, just the way it was intended. The scrappy, to-the-point vocals of J. Restless fuel these hyper-charged songs, only holding off for some quick but impressive guitar work from the chords of Christafari. He’s no guitar virtuoso, but the man can handle himself well for what he’s playing, and it helps to give a really authentic old-school sound to the music. With that authenticity comes very, very simple song structures, just how it should be. Loud, fast, and raw are the mantra of Restless Youth, and it’s a schtick they pull off in a superb manner.

Also well pulled off is the bridge between the EP and the demo that’s included on it; the transition in both recording quality and musicianship is so seamless you’d most likely never even know the difference. Surprisingly, the best song to be found here is also the longest; “Walk The Earth” closes in on the three-minute mark, and shows the highest level of musical diversity to be found on the album. Screeching guitars and angry vocals go back and forth in a song that gets better and better as it goes on.

Austin Powers' father may detest the Dutch, but Restless Youth have finally given people a reason besides Amsterdam to disagree.



People who liked this also liked:
The Holy Mountain - Enemies16 Horsepower - Hoarse [reissue]Mabus - Cheers, To Doomsday GloomAmerican Distress - American DistressCasket Architects - Dance on the Death NerveCross Examination - The Hung JuryBracket - RequiemNo Thanks - Demo / Live: CBGBs [reissues]A Global Threat - Where the Sun Never SetsPolar Bear Club - The Redder, The Better



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    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 8, 2005 at 6:39 PM (EDT)

    Will was wrong about 50 on Red, but he is right about this. The european HC scene is just as good and large and diverse as america's, all our bands don't sign to victory though so obviuosly they are shit.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 8, 2005 at 6:17 PM (EDT)

    Both times I've seen them they were fucking awesome.

    Downslide
    Nothing Done
    A Step Apart

    are also great hardcore bands from Holland

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 8, 2005 at 2:28 PM (EDT)

    They ruled, but Seein' Red would have been an awesome progression, perhaps on the scale of making them "The Clash of thrash", but instead they stopped and just started playing to the scene.

    -Will

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 8, 2005 at 12:52 AM (EDT)

    Because Larm ruled.

    -Ken

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 7, 2005 at 5:17 PM (EDT)

    I think Seein' Red's early stuff is better than their traditional thrash crap... Why did people want another Larm?

    -Will

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 7, 2005 at 3:23 PM (EDT)

    Holland Hardcore bands:

    LARM
    Seein' Red
    Betercore
    Matka Taresa
    BGK
    Kreigstanz
    way more than I feel like researching right now.

    You can pretty much throw a dart at a world map and find a punk band within a few miles (unless you hit the ocean or something).

    Posted by lol_omg_wtf_nambla on 2005-09-06 21:03:49

    I see the Pennywise thing, but this really looks like the Battle Royale logo. That movie was a trip.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 6, 2005 at 8:09 PM (EDT)

    IM you and attempt to harrass you? Excuse me, you told me one time to finish up an argument in AIM. Sorry if I did what you asked.

    I didn't want to start another argument (honestly, look at the majority of your reviews- I haven't "posted" anything in them), but you just sounded like an idiot for acting like hardcore in Holland is a weird thing. I think anyone who knows their shit would agree with me.

    -Will

    Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2005-09-06 20:03:08

    looks like a leftover pennywise album cover

    - jones the bones

    - stevejones8770@yahoo.com

    Posted by Anchors on 2005-09-06 18:55:25

    Also, Syracuse is one city, and you're referencing it against a country, and entire fucking continent? Intelligent.

    Posted by Anchors on 2005-09-06 18:49:07

    For the last fucking time, you live in Kansas City, you know nothing about the Syracuse scene, you 17 year old know it all.

    Keep commenting on my reviews, though, keep obsessing over me. And hey, why don't you IM me and attempt to harass me some more, like you do all the time. Come on, you're not creepily obsessed or anything.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 6, 2005 at 4:36 PM (EDT)

    "Dutch hardcore?"

    What the fuck are you talking about... Holland and Europe as a whole have had a much more prosperous punk scene that Syracuse...

    You come off as such an ignorant prick.

    -Will

    Posted by dazed on 2005-09-06 11:37:56
    My Score:

    I never really thought the Bad Brains comparison fit this band; although they have a similar style it's really not as similar as you'd think from reading all the press about this band. This is a very good EP though, hopefully they'll have a full-length out soon.

    Posted by joeg on 2005-09-06 10:56:38

    bad brains style hardcore>>>>>>>>>>modern day metal style hardcore

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 6, 2005 at 6:13 AM (EDT)

    blah.

    i hate that amsterdam blahblah stuff.

    good band though. specially live.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 6, 2005 at 2:01 AM (EDT)

    Hello!?! ~~echo~~

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