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No Innocent Victim

To Burn Again (2005)
Facedown Records

Reviewer Rating:

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

Published on December 13th 2005

There isn’t much to say about this album, which in turn, doesn’t really say much for the album. It has the ‘X-Pac Effect;’ a term created by some friends and myself, named after the wrestler who has consistently failed to draw either cheers or boos unto himself. Like this album, he’s just there.

This isn’t quite as negative in music as in wrestling, but for an album that is being hyped as “the long awaited comeback of southern California’s No Innocent Victim,” it is a four-year wait that definitely wasn’t worth it. To Burn Again is mediocre. It’s not bad, but it doesn’t leave the listener caring enough to need to pop it in again.

None of the tracks, from “To Burn Again” to “Highly Flammable” (first to last), draw enough attention to themselves to really stand out. On the latter, the opening line states “make me ignite.” The problem is that this album never truly ignites. The lyrics seem uninspired, and instead are just something to keep the music moving forward. It always feels as if it’s on the verge finding a great sound, but just never gets there.

Again, the album is not awful, and if you’re a fan of the band, it still may be worth checking out for yourself, but for the casual hardcore fan, there is nothing here that hasn’t been done better before.

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Anonymous (January 22, 2006)

" just fucking take your "spirituality" and shove it up your wack digipack-selling asses."

sounds like you've had yourself a bad church experience.

this album is good because it has a strong message and that is extremely rare these days. these days, the only messages hardcore bands are allowed to have are "fuck you" and "fuck you, i'm edge" which are pretty easy things to stand by.

LaidToWaste (December 19, 2005)

hey Mr.Anonymous just below me. why don't you do everyone a favor and go ahead and kill yourself, you're probably one of those little pussies who get beat up by all the jocks at your high school.

Anonymous (December 18, 2005)

"Hating on a band because they are Christian is both and ignorant and intolerant act."

Aww, am I oppressing you? Nailing you to the cross again?
No, dude. Fuck unity, and fuck this "anything is cool" bullshit mindset. I hate people. Pure and simple, just fucking take your "spirituality" and shove it up your wack digipack-selling asses.

Anonymous (December 16, 2005)

Hating on a band because they are Christian is both and ignorant and intolerant act. You're probably the same person that preaches open mindness. Great job at being ignorant.

Anonymous (December 16, 2005)

This is a stellar album from an influential hardcore band. Kudos to them for getting back together.

Anonymous (December 15, 2005)

No I'll hate on them for being christian - thanks, though.

LaidToWaste (December 15, 2005)

if you are going to hate on a band, hate on them cause you don't like their music, if you hate on a band because they are christian your a fucking miserable piece of shit.

Sick_Nick (December 14, 2005)

New Age Outlaws were the best members of D-X, Bad Ass Billy Gun and Road Dog Jessee James.

Anonymous (December 14, 2005)

fuck hardcore like this. the only hardcore band that matters is jr ewing.

soulbleed (December 14, 2005)

this is a good comeback for this band. they haven't made a decent record in like 8 years.

crazytoledo (December 14, 2005)

Pure Shit

colton (December 14, 2005)

First hardcore band that ever really effected me.

Anonymous (December 14, 2005)

Enjoy this image of Crucial Unit: http://www.gloom.org/albums/album09/cu_21.jpg

You will gain more enjoyment from looking at this single image than you would if you shelled out $12 for this crappy CD. In fact, there is more diversity within the hardcore contained in this lone picture than on the entire NIV CD.

Anonymous (December 14, 2005)

another poorly written review of a shitty hardcore band from the guy that cant come to terms with the fact that he likes poorly written shitty hardcore.

Anonymous (December 14, 2005)

i bought CEB, i think that was the cd's name. and i was reading the lyrics, and since this was before the internet existed, it took me a good while to realise they were a christian hardcore band, and goddamnit they're good at it, the guys voice sounds like he's choking on blood, it's great

boba_fett (December 13, 2005)

it took me until the last fucking line to find out what they sounded like. to a dude whos never heard these guys, that review doesnt help me much.

Anonymous (December 13, 2005)

good album. as with the previous comment, these guys got me into hardcore.

etwiels88 (December 13, 2005)

Wow, that's some bad cover art

Anonymous (December 13, 2005)

i don't think anybody wants x-pac heat, or, for anybody who watches TNA, jeff jarrett heat.

Anonymous (December 13, 2005)

a bunch of jesus loving assholes.

SalsaShark (December 13, 2005)

X-Pac was in a porno with Chyna. Ugh.