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Grave for the Fireflies

Bitten (2005)
Basement Records

Reviewer Rating:

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

Published on February 7th 2006

Grave for the Fireflies is a band that should serve as a harsh wakeup call to a lot of people. Straight hardcore punk out of a Southern California scene diluted with black hair dye and faux metal, they’re bringing eleven tracks full of raging jams that will put holes in your speakers.

Eleven tracks in less than twenty minutes, you’re damn right these guys mean business, and they’ll let you know straight from the outset. Vocalist and guitarist Richie Verdugo sounds eerily similar to Travis Reilly in his Scraps and Heart Attacks days, only shouting over the vicious buzzsaw attack reminiscent of the Nerve Agents. That potent mixture does nothing but impress throughout the course of the entire album, as the band displays ferocity and a solid level of songwriting skill just the same. The delivery is crisp, effective, and in your face the entire time. “Mr. Scarecrow’s Heart Is Not Broken...” could have easily been a Black Flag track, with the intense drumming and even more intense shouted vocals, all over a real rock‘n’roll feeling rhythm that packs a serious bite of its own.

The good news -- it only gets better from there. Each track makes you want to pump your fist and start a circle pit even more than the last, as the songs seem to take on an angrier, darker tone as the album progresses. And for this style of music, that couldn’t be a better piece of commentary. The dirty, ripping guitars and gang vocals of “Eyeliner” make way for the take-no-prisoners and make-no-friends lyrical approach;

Girl pants on your body,fast hair cuts,fast hair cuts / Mascara on your eyes, your old tattoos are all covered up / Shame on you, this new hardcore scene / Boys kiss the boys to impress the girls, put some guy pants on / Cut your fucking hair, no identities / Fuck your fashion scene, girl pants on your body.

Their blunt approach also tackles such topics as the JFK assassination, war, and suicide, all taken on from different standpoints than you would usually find, and the fresh spin only fuels their unrelenting attack. These guys are even more loud and in your face on the last track than the first, drums firing like machine guns, guitars blazing, thick bass present through it all; this is a well orchestrated attack.

This is music meant to be listened to at maximum volume, music to make you think about what’s going on inside your punk and hardcore scenes, music to make you break shit and question authority, just how it should be.

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Anonymous (February 9, 2006)

jesse,

read the second comment. then a couple of more late r on

Anonymous (February 9, 2006)

4 stars???Frwagfsakf. this is shit. AFI wanna be crap, and AFI sucks too. i'm so fucking sick of reviews that say "drums like machine guns, thundering bass,ect" . arrrgh, its too early to get angry.

Jesse (February 9, 2006)

No one's going to comment on the fact that this band is named after an Anime? No one?

Anyway, it's a sappy movie about a kid who's mom gets killed in Hiroshima, then he and his little sister go live alone, then she gets sick and dies, then he dies.

Not the greatest movie ever.

Horrible movie to name yourself after.

Anonymous (February 9, 2006)

This score si for Mike Ness

Mute98 (February 8, 2006)

can someone please send this to me? ill try to give u some shit in return

IM= Pulley1208
Soulseek= TenFootPole
MSN: Pulley665

Pope_Skeletor (February 8, 2006)

My boss used to have a nautical star on the back of her neck. She got it covered up with a picture of a pizza. I was impressed.

darkstarm (February 8, 2006)

While the execution is off I praise these dudes for attacking the current "hardcore" scene. I'll pick this up, if only to support anyone who rips on people who wear girl pants.

Also: I do not have a nautical star tattoo but I do know someone who does. The main problem with people who get dumb tattoos is that it's a fucking tattoo. You can't tell them it sucks, they're going to have it forever.

davebrave4 (February 7, 2006)

good movie

Anonymous (February 7, 2006)

"I find it hilarious that a band as goofy as the Aquabats has so far written the best commentary on emo."

there's really nothing that hard to believe about it. the bats arent trend followers, so they have a clear head about things like that

Anonymous (February 7, 2006)

I find it hilarious that a band as goofy as the Aquabats has so far written the best commentary on emo.

inagreendase (February 7, 2006)

This is fairly decent.

skolarx (February 7, 2006)

my roommate has nautical star tattoos.

givemeamuseumandillfillit (February 7, 2006)

Are you a member on the bridge 9 messageboard?

Anonymous (February 7, 2006)

Apparently those lyrics hit a little too close to home for some of you. At least someone has the juevos to tell these little "hardcore kids" what's up. Why is it cool for dudes to suck face with other dudes and dress all toit. hahaha classic !!!

givemeamuseumandillfillit (February 7, 2006)

When i heard this album i thought it was a compilation of random band playing music to lyrics sung and written by bridge 9 messageboard members.

ElVaquero (February 7, 2006)

this review makes them seem so boring and unoriginal

Etienne (February 7, 2006)

The lyrics aren't too great, agree. I just listened to some of the songs posted on their site though and this rips pretty hard.

stevejonestherealbones (February 7, 2006)

i've seen it. good flick. even if bringing that up here makes you an anime geek

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

kenfuggit (February 7, 2006)

Speaking of shit fashion trends, who has the nautical star tatoos? C'mon fess up...gotta be a few of you on here.

-Ken

Anonymous (February 7, 2006)

also, the cover is very Atreyu-ish.

vampirez are c00L mannn

Anonymous (February 7, 2006)

Those ARE terrible lyrics. Totally cliche and, i agree, sounds like some rant of a brat on the comments on this site.

ANyone SEE the movie Grave Of The Fireflies? Itll make ya weepy folks, so bring your girl pants!

Archangel (February 7, 2006)

Those lyrics are a joke. They read like they came off of this site's comment section.