Where Eagles Dare may be the best hardcore band that no one talks about.
The first time I saw them play, they were touring with then label-mates the Backup Plan. I had heard their name before, but I had no clue what to expect from them. They went on and proceeded to rip through a 20 minute set. I was left slack-jawed.
These four guys from Arizona play a brand of fast-paced, melodic hardcore chock full of gang vocals and sing-alongs. Think somewhere between American Nightmare, This Is Hell and Stretch Armstrong and you're on the right track.
The band's singer, Jaesyn, has one of the most unique voices in hardcore. His shrill yet powerful scream cuts straight to the point of the heartfelt lyrics he shouts. Where Eagles Dare don't rely on breakdowns or mosh parts; the strength of this band is their speed and intensity.
To Come from Nowhere is the band's first proper full-length and the followup to their stunning EP In a Thousand Words or Less that came out in 2003 on Endwell Records. A few tracks from the EP were re-done for the full-length, including the ridicuously posi-hardcore sing-along "Good Times."
"Bridges Made of Matches" starts out with a slow piano introduction before blasting into what sounds like an army of handclaps and pounding drums, followed by one of the slickest guitar riffs I've heard in some time. The gang vocals are also ever-present here, though the band doesn't really over-do them like so many bands tend to do (i.e. Comeback Kid).
Some of these songs are just fast and ridiculously catchy. The band does slow it down from time to time, as in "You'll Need a Bodybag," but just as you're lulled into a mellow beat, the song kicks into full blast. "Bodybag" and "Bayonettes and Bedsheets" are two of the record's best songs, and they are both available to stream via their Myspace page.
To Come from Nowhere is easily in my top five hardcore records of the past two years.
The more I listen to this record, the more I wonder just how Where Eagles Dare is not absolutely huge. It might have something to do with the extended time taken between releases or a light touring schedule, but these guys have the potential to be the next band that everyone jocks if they work hard enough.