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Bones Brigade

Focused (2004)
Fight Fire with Fire

Reviewer Rating:

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

Published on September 11th 2005

This whole "metalcore" thing is a bane unto my existence. I don't quite understand how it works, but my basic glean is that it's "metal-influenced hardcore." That being said, I declare Bones Brigade to be the greatest metalcore band ever, and the discussion to be closed.

There have been lineup changes since the last album, I Hate Myself When I'm Not Skateboarding (interestingly enough, a track by this name appears on this album). Nevertheless, the sound remains the same: Extremely fast hardcore coupled with gravelly-voiced singing and an album without any mediocre tracks. In my opinion, this is the best album of the past 10 years.

Released in 2004, Focused starts out off with "Blue Tile Lounge," an introduction of sorts voiced by the great Johnny Rad, whoever that is. If he likes Bones Brigade, I'm sure he's swell to hang out with. Iron Maiden-inspired riffs are omnipresent, coupled with, dare I say, breakdowns.

In another vein of metality, there are not one, but two instrumentals, "LA Massacre" and "The Joust." Don't expect any "Orion" flashbacks, though, as both tracks clock in at well under 3 minutes.

The album ends with "Future Impaired." Normally, I'm not a big fan of movie sample intros, but I find the "Rushmore" quote to be a nice touch, especially because it flows from that into a wonderous guitar assault.

Standout Tracks:

"Future Impaired"
"Running On Empty"
"I Hate Myself When I'm Not Skateboarding"

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Anonymous (January 25, 2006)

i loved this album aside from the homosexual overtones but seeing they are from boston what can you expect???

xcm (October 2, 2005)

score is for the reviewer and the cd

Anonymous (September 24, 2005)

it's not fuckin' rushmore, it's Happiness, from Tod Solondz.

Anonymous (September 15, 2005)

hey rkl or anyone

my local record stores only have "older than shit heavier than time" is that a good intro to this band, or should i just mail order this latest one? or the skateboarding one you mentioned?

"older than shit" is a compilation of their 7"s and some unreleased tracks, including suicidal tendencies and i think motorhead covers. it covers their whole "career", old singer and new, so it's a good introduction, but "focused" fucking rules.

i definitely wouldn't associate these guys with metalcore at all. they have actual metal chops, but i'd say they're more like old crossover bands like the accused or attitude adjustment or something like that. i don't like too much modern hardcore, but these guys rip.

blade-runner (September 13, 2005)

"Then you should be in love with American Nightmare right?"

Yes

rkl (September 13, 2005)

psychoos231: i think im fairly wellschooled in hardcore, and ive never found another band that sounds exactly like this.
i mean, i could say... its like a harder RKL, or its like slayer, if every album they did was undisputed attitude, or its like iron maiden, if all of their songs were "invaders," and bruce dickinson wasnt howling... but those are all indirect comparisons.

as far as im concerned, this album is perfection, and this band is the one to restore faith in the modern punk scene.

Anonymous (September 12, 2005)

I apologize for my awkward use of the word growling. However, I should point out that I wrote and submitted that review when I was only 13; it did take you guys over six years to finally post it.

-Chinatown

bizzlebrizzle (September 12, 2005)

I've said it about "Every Time I Die", and I'll say it agian.

Any disc with a reference to the movie "Rushmore" must certainly be fucking awesome.

Then you should be in love with American Nightmare right?

Because they're a better band than ETID.

psychoos231 (September 12, 2005)

Its nothing new, I didn't say it wasn't good mister

Anonymous (September 12, 2005)

i think the "older than shit..." is their newest one.

i have "Focused" on LP and "I Hate Myself When I'm Not Skateboarding" on cd. I like "I Hate..." best.

Anonymous (September 12, 2005)

rkl (September 12, 2005)

Bones Brigade - Focused
Posted by psychoos231 on 2005-09-12 13:30:15

good stuff but not a 10
why isnt it a 10?

Anonymous (September 12, 2005)

Steve Jones. Head of the Bones Brigade.

psychoos231 (September 12, 2005)

good stuff but not a 10

blade-runner (September 11, 2005)

I've said it about "Every Time I Die", and I'll say it agian.

Any disc with a reference to the movie "Rushmore" must certainly be fucking awesome.

rkl (September 11, 2005)

unfortunately, i havent had the chance to see them live..
but when i listen to this in the car(on my way to work everymorning, 90mph on the interstate at 4am cant be beat)it makes me feel like im standing right in front of a monitor, about to get whacked in the head with someone's headstock.

and, yes, scooter, the instrumentals have tons of growling (i submitted this long before chinatown's infamous review got published)

Anonymous (September 11, 2005)

When I saw these fuckers live at Gloomfest 2005 at Valentine's in Albany, they put on one of the most frentic, insane, ridiculous, and utterly amazing show I've seen from any band, ever. I walked in on their guitarist pissing, so they gave me a shit-load of free stuff. I'd kill to see 'em again, and they're just fucking incredible.

Anonymous (September 11, 2005)

one of the best bands from boston right now

anyone who has a chance to see them go do it

i thankfully live in boston and get to see them a lot

Anonymous (September 11, 2005)

bizzle http://punknews.org/reviews.php?op=albumreview&id=4310

- jones

bizzlebrizzle (September 11, 2005)

growling?

What are you fags talking about?

This band sounds like 80s skate thrash, think DRI, Wehrmacht, Cryptic Slaughter etc.

LMChc (September 11, 2005)

this record gives me wood

but it's a different make and model from I Hate Myself When I'm Not Skateboarding.

stevejonestherealbones (September 11, 2005)

are there songs online anywhere?

- jones

boba_fett (September 11, 2005)

ive got their I hate myself when I'm not skateboarding cd. i guess its passable.

stevejonestherealbones (September 11, 2005)

haha, i dont think i will be able to look at another review with bold the same.. on one of the few times i was listening to punkradiocast, a song from that no use album came on and i was like effin A, what the fuck is that shit? that has to be what can only be described as growling

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

maverick (September 11, 2005)

The big question, and I think Jones will back me up on this, is:

Do those instrumentals contain any growling whatsoever?

-Scott

punkcorekid (September 11, 2005)

they were great live. they covered a slayer song and talked shit the whole time they were playing.

there were some kids standing in the back and the guitarist was like "why are you guys standing around in the back? you must rollerblade"

hahaha

skankin_in_the_pit (September 11, 2005)

I doubt I've listened to any c.d. in the last year more than this. I love "I hate myself When I'm not Skateboarding" and this was a huge step up. I also need to see this band live.

xmidipunkbastardx (September 11, 2005)

"I must see them live."

fuck yhea, you have to!
damn great live band.

AlmostPunkEnough (September 11, 2005)

yes. awesome.

Nick_V (September 11, 2005)

I must see them live.

Anonymous (September 11, 2005)

Shit yeah, this is awesome! I was so down on punk rock these days until I heard this. Fuck yeah!

stevejonestherealbones (September 11, 2005)

In another vein of metality

not sure if thats a typo, or perhaps the best pun i've seen in a long time

i am going to have to check out this band, rkl might not like alot of the music i like, but i think i like alot of the music he does

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com