Punknews.org

|
Sign In | create an account

Restless Youth

State Of Confusion (2005)
International News

Reviewer Rating:

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

Published on September 4th 2005

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.

Login to rate this album

People who liked this also liked:

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.

Anonymous (September 8, 2005)

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.

Anonymous (September 8, 2005)

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

Downslide
Nothing Done
A Step Apart

are also great hardcore bands from Holland

Anonymous (September 8, 2005)

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

Anonymous (September 8, 2005)

Because Larm ruled.

-Ken

Anonymous (September 7, 2005)

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

-Will

Anonymous (September 7, 2005)

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).

lol_omg_wtf_nambla (September 6, 2005)

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

Anonymous (September 6, 2005)

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

stevejonestherealbones (September 6, 2005)

looks like a leftover pennywise album cover

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

Anchors (September 6, 2005)

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

Anchors (September 6, 2005)

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.

Anonymous (September 6, 2005)

"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

dazed (September 6, 2005)

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.

joeg (September 6, 2005)

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

Anonymous (September 6, 2005)

blah.

i hate that amsterdam blahblah stuff.

good band though. specially live.

Anonymous (September 6, 2005)

Hello!?! ~~echo~~