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Epitaph Records -- Millencolin

Fox Trotsky are a band with a serious identity crisis. On one hand, the comparison could be drawn that they are a less talented, less experienced version of the Suicide Machines. On the other hand, it could just be said that the band tries to implement far more variety and creativity than they really have the talent for. The truth of the matter lies pretty firmly in the middle.

They’re ambitious, first and foremost, that’s what’s really noticeable. Combining aspects of punk, ska, and hardcore just as the Suicide Machines perfected, Trotsky emerge as a young group of guys that are really trying to throw together those styles in the best manner they know how. Sometimes, it works. “Corpse Rock” has some surprisingly vibrant ska upstrokes, and some decent punk rock to anchor it down. Where they run into trouble is with some of the screaming.

The band's vocalist has an extremely quick firing, raspy scream that’s loud, but not usually much else. He doesn’t always scream in tune, or even in cohesion with the rest of this band, leaving a forced result showing a band trying to be jack of all trades. If some more hardcore-esque riffs were put behind him, and he was given ample chance to flesh out the scream, it might actually sound pretty solid, but the band chooses instead to sporadically display those kind of vocals, and it comes off sounding too powerful for the music that’s backing it. If they would instead stick to their mixture of punk and ska, like “Withdrawl,” they’d have a pretty solid product on their hands. That’s something they’re actually rather solid with. The vocals aren’t superb, and the musicianship not incredible, but it’s definitely good enough to get the job done and create some solid tunes. “Politricks” is a faster punk song with some brief ska bridges that makes light of their talent when turning up the volume and speeding up the pace a bit. They’re able to craft the entire song well, to the point where you really wonder why they even bother trying anything else.

Possibly not even so much an identity crisis as some poor decision making, Fox Trotsky would do well to stick to their punk and ska roots, leaving the hardcore for those bands who know how to play it.



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    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 4, 2006 at 11:48 PM (EDT)

    whoever made this review should go play in traffic..

    Posted by BethBethBam on 2006-05-29 19:01:28
    My Score:

    Not only does is this band totally awesome and more awesome live, but the lead singer/guitarist is amazing in bed. If people would love each other just a little more, the world would be a much happier place. And you would probably write a better review. Go get laid.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, May 29, 2006 at 5:41 PM (EDT)

    Fox Trotsky is an amazing band. Seeing them live was such an incredible experience, it's honestly one of the best live shows I've ever been to. They have so many fans and seeing everyone sing along word for word and rock out all night was awesome.

    Posted by chokingvictim on 2006-05-29 15:43:06

    Well I love this album but the FT>SM comments are taking it too far...

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, May 7, 2006 at 1:20 PM (EDT)

    dude come on, if you live in atlanta and have seen this band before then you know this album and band kick some serious ass.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 9, 2006 at 9:37 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Whoever gave that review is a douchebag! This album is great!

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 8, 2006 at 11:56 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    fuck this guy. ive had everyone of these songs stuck in my head since i bought this album. its catchy as hell and i cant put it down

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 6, 2006 at 12:38 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    This band is nothing short of incredible and whoever wrote the review is a moron... Fox Trotsky is one of the only local bands in ATL that should be signed... Take this shitty, ridiculous review and shove it up in your loose asshole...

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 31, 2006 at 11:42 PM (EST)

    oh go get hit by a truck.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, March 30, 2006 at 12:14 AM (EST)

    Fuck your website, Fox Trotsky is the mad notes. Not to be irrational, but I hope your first baby dies in your arms, because your second baby just killed it, cause the second baby loves Fox Trotsky.

    You've been heeded.

    Posted by sceneholocaust on 2006-03-28 09:36:44

    I've played a show with these guys and they are cool dudes who put on a good show... they had a song about the McRib.. what else can you ask for?

    I agree with the poster who noted that this band is a fuck of a lot better than the review makes them out to be. Go to their site/myspace/purevolume and make up your own mind.

    They are one of the best ska-core acts out of the ATL and deserve more respect than the review gives them.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, March 26, 2006 at 10:21 PM (EST)

    Whoever reviewed this cd is a moron. Fox Trotsky puts on a great show and thier music is definitly nothing short of promising.

    Posted by Anchors on 2006-03-26 13:14:52

    Hahaha oh god, this is comedy.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, March 26, 2006 at 11:49 AM (EST)

    yeah you guys are definately way too focused on just the screaming. take that out and you have some amazing lyrics and a very creative group. wheres the props to the drummer?... because he's incredible. the day you stop promoting main-stream, non creative, hot-topic based bullshit maybe then you guys will see the potential of Fox Trotsky.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, March 25, 2006 at 9:45 PM (EST)

    ha. This person has no idea what he's talking about. SCREAMING IN KEY... hahahahahahahaahh dumbest thing ive ever heard. I'm the one that had this band come to FT Lauderdale. I booked the show so its good to see i got a few others listening to them. This is one of my favorite cd's ever made. Definitley blows away the suicide machines. Hardcore swooped hair cool guys like this should not review punk records. DEFINITLEY give this cd a listen. You wont be sorry.

    _peenloon

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, March 25, 2006 at 6:24 PM (EST)

    Horrible review. Suicide Machines haven't perfected anything. Music can always be improved on. Fox Trotsky>Suicide Machines IMO.

    Posted by boba_fett on 2006-03-25 14:34:29

    ive never heard them, but their name is so indie that it hurts my face.

    buuuuuuuuuut: fox trot is a great comic strip.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 24, 2006 at 10:10 PM (EST)

    i saw this band when they came to ft lauderdale. i love them. let me just clear this up: there is ZERO ska in politricks. they sound nothing like the suicide machines. leftover crack maybe. queen definately. lurn how 2 spell. its WITHDRAWAL not WITHDRaWL!!! Please point me in the direction of a band who sreams in tune with the guitars. that does not happen. im driving up to atlanta from here to see them in april. cant wait. they have a great live show. this deserves 20 more stars than given

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 24, 2006 at 5:25 PM (EST)

    Solid! solid! i absolutely luuuvvv sayin solid!!!

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 24, 2006 at 2:05 PM (EST)

    This really is MUCH better than two stars.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 24, 2006 at 12:25 PM (EST)

    anchors,
    you, my friend, need to go back to talking shit on the anti-flag message board and stop reviewing records. this band sounds nothing like suicide machines. come one dude...also, how does one does one "scream" out of tune? maybe i am just an idiot but screaming is atonal. also, how do you know this band has "punk and ska roots?" how do you know they didn't used to be a hardcore band that started playing ska?
    you also need to mention the stellar lyricism of this record. the singer wrote some bomb lyrics but you were too busy trying to figure out if the scream was in tune to actually pay attention to that. i hope you don't take this the wrong way. i got this very same record in the mail to review and i think it's a real shame that the kids have to take your word for it. in my humble opinion this is one of the most promising acts in the southeast.
    Dontavius Casio-nova

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 24, 2006 at 10:10 AM (EST)

    yeah, i liked the ep a lot, but some of the 'better' songs ive heard off of those dont seem as good as the poorer ones on take back the streets. i dunno if ill buy this

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 24, 2006 at 7:02 AM (EST)

    Fox Lenin?

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 24, 2006 at 2:58 AM (EST)

    I don't really like this album but their EP has some fucking amazing songs on it. Like the song Guilt Trip.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 24, 2006 at 2:26 AM (EST)

    errr...leftover crack not suicide machines

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 24, 2006 at 2:26 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    This band is much better than this review makes them out to be. If I had to draw a comparison, it would lie much more heavily on the leftover crack side than choking victim. One of the best punk rock bands in Atlanta. Keep an eye out for these guys.

    Posted by chokingvictim on 2006-03-24 02:01:58
    My Score:

    Ah, it suprised me to see such a low score. I like this record a lot. If you like Choking Victim, Suicide Machines, Leftover Crack, etc. you'd probably like this.

    Posted by recordings on 2006-03-24 00:57:51

    that cover art looks like a HORRIBLE rip off of the already horrible *exploding dog* webstie. sweet lord.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 24, 2006 at 12:15 AM (EST)

    sounds dirty