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The First Step

What We Know (2006)
Rivalry Records

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

Published on September 29th 2006

What a great year for Rivalry Records.

First Another Breath, then Verse, now the First Step. Three incredible hardcore bands, all occupying different enough niches within the genre to not blend in with each other, instead, each has their own identity, each has their own sound.

The First Step represents the youth crew contingent, and they play the style flawlessly. Everything, from guitar tone to vocal delivery is a perfect representation of what a youth crew hardcore album should sound like. Passion, intensity, and simplistic and universal lyrical themes -- it’s all here. Vocalist Stephen St. Germain is a madman on the mic, often sounding like a much more intense version off With Honor vocalist Todd Mackey on This Is Our Revenge, and accounting for the real driving force between each of the record's twelve tracks.

Some offer a bit more speed and intensity than others, but even the slow moving, bass-fronted tracks like “No Way to Live” are instantly catchy, lines like "Taking and taking, when you have such a chance to give / That’s just no way to live!" becoming instant sing-along opportunities. The gang vocals on this album are full of energy and enthusiasm, providing a bit of a boost to whatever song may be lacking. The songs aren’t reliant on that, though, as the riffs dealt out by Aaron Chrietzberg rage without any sort of relent, and drummer Isreal Soriano is not much of a slouch himself. “Pursuit of Happiness,” in only a minute and a half, portrays perfectly everything that this band is about. Going at breakneck speed, St Germain still is able to perfectly articulate every word as clearly and angrily as the last, and only for the short bass bridge does the band slow to catch their breath, launching right back into the intensity once it’s over. “As It Is” may not bring quite the speed that the previous song did, but anything lacking is made up for with the rousing gang vocals that so often are found at the point of attention.

You like youth crew hardcore? You will like this record, there’s no middle ground. Rivalry is having a hell of a year, and this is just another jewel in the crown.

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PJZ (June 24, 2007)

this band rules, the title track is amazing

Anonymous (October 2, 2006)

"It's funny because the Canadian Subhumans were far more anarchistic and crusty than Subhumans UK."

It's also funny how much worse they were than the UK version.

Anonymous (October 2, 2006)

Their best stuff is long out of print.

-Will

feeeding5000 (October 1, 2006)

I've only heard them from the Vancouver Compilation, and it's...ok.

feeeding5000 (October 1, 2006)

Yeah...didn't one of the Canadian Subhumans get arrested for bombing a factory, or something?

Anonymous (October 1, 2006)

"Ok...so I saw on the streaming albums the Subhumans, and I almost shit myself. Then I saw it was the Vancouver Subhumans. I...unshit."

It's funny because the Canadian Subhumans were far more anarchistic and crusty than Subhumans UK.

-Will

inagreendase (September 30, 2006)

I *should* like this but it seemed really pedestrian on the first listen.

Anonymous (September 29, 2006)

If not for Ambitions, probably the hardcore album of the year. Good fun.

feeeding5000 (September 29, 2006)

Also, this sounds pretty cool. I prefer old youth crew (ha) to the shit-metal that passes for hardcore these days. Still, I think Felic Havoc had the best idea -- a new evolution of hardcore combining Youth Crew and D-Beat.

feeeding5000 (September 29, 2006)

Ok...so I saw on the streaming albums the Subhumans, and I almost shit myself. Then I saw it was the Vancouver Subhumans. I...unshit.

rkl (September 29, 2006)

i dont like anchors, but i like this band. score is for not letting personal preference get in the way of a solid review.

Anonymous (September 29, 2006)

Anchors is a solid dude that writes good reviews, fuck off. i don't like this band, saw them last year and they were horrendous.

skankin_in_the_pit (September 29, 2006)

This keeps growing on me. A couple months ago I probably would've given this a 6.

Anonymous (September 29, 2006)

i hope this reviewer dies in a fire. fuck him. fuck this band.

gladimnotemo (September 29, 2006)

I saw this band last year. They are not very good. I kne Anchors reviewed this before I even opened it. Oh well.

jamespastepunk (September 29, 2006)

I haven't heard this band's previous material, but judging by the two songs I found from it on the rivarly site, this CD is awesome.

BizzleBrizzle (September 29, 2006)

awesome record, awesome band

changeisasound (September 29, 2006)

I love this album. it took me a while to get into but its become one of my favortie pretty quickly. i saw these guys live in july. their live presence is in a league of its own.

givemeamuseumandillfillit (September 29, 2006)

Great band, dissapointing release.

fallingupwards84 (September 29, 2006)

great fucking band
i love these guys

Anonymous (September 29, 2006)

Bad ass fucking cover.

danperrone (September 29, 2006)

eh, just not my style