Coke Bust

Coke Bust: Lines in the Sand [12 inch]Lines in the Sand [12 inch] (2009)
Six Weeks

Reviewer Rating: 3.5

Contributed by: mikexdudemikexdude
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on June 23rd 2009Washington, D.C.'s Coke Bust takes a massive step forward in songwriting from their EP, Fuck Bar Culture; albeit, this is far from innovative or far from their thrash/hardcore influences, their debut LP Lines in the Sand manages to defy all that's too predictable and conventional with an exhibition .

Washington, D.C.'s Coke Bust takes a massive step forward in songwriting from their EP, Fuck Bar Culture; albeit, this is far from innovative or far from their thrash/hardcore influences, their debut LP Lines in the Sand manages to defy all that's too predictable and conventional with an exhibition of rhythmic chops and atonal sensibility.

Lines in the Sand spins like a good hardcore set list: relentless, antagonistic, loud and with the songs caulked together by a continuous crackle of feedback. The lead-off track, "Under the Street Lights," with its barrage of artificial harmonics and awkward time and tempo shifts, sums up Coke Bust's plan of attack. The riffs are stark and jarring with occasional octave chords for melodic embellishments; the drumming has a rigid yet grooving feel; and the vocalist shouts socially conscious observations that are, well...they're a hardcore band. While each component is executed with precision and seemingly effortless, possibly the most impressive feat is how well they've captured the energy of their live show on recording.

Along with "Under the Streetlights," "Prove You Right" is easily the best track on side A; the chorus nods at some incestuous influence from Magrudergrind (same drummer) before slowing down into a bouncing, floor tom section. Side B is owned by the title track, "Patriot" and "Cycle of Violence." All three are...really fucking fast and structureless.

And that's just the problem. There's probably about a full-length and an EP worth of good songs; just putting all 17 together -- even if they're short -- is psychologically exhausting. The artwork could have been a little better, too...

Regardless, while not being completely sold on the band after Fuck Bar Culture, this LP hints at elements of brilliance and just some straight-to-the-point hardcore goodness. Lines in the Sand easily solidifies Coke Bust as one of the genre's dark horses.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Allon (August 16, 2009)

definitely not reading all these comments. western addiction rules and this band is pretty good too.

mikexdude (June 25, 2009)

btw, they are natural harmonics not artificial. doubt anyone nit picks that hard though.

mikexdude (June 24, 2009)

Yeah, he's 18.

mikexdude (June 24, 2009)

so many pussy comments. all that matters is that their bass player is 16

nina_d (June 24, 2009)

so many pussy comments. all that matters is that their bass player is 16

Dante3000 (June 24, 2009)

These comments just remind me of the time I got heckled at the Fest by some bike punk for wearing a Ruiner t-shirt. I wonder why I got into music sometimes.
-Dante

Blackjaw_x (June 24, 2009)

Oh I see. You guys were being confusing, I couldn't tell if you were saying yourself that Fat sucks or if you were saying underground hardcore fans think that, or what! :P

SloaneDaley (June 24, 2009)

You mean anything 'hardcore' on Fat Wreck can't be good... right? They have some great bands right now, I don't care what anyone says... and a lot of shit bands. Though most 'hardcore' isn't my cup of tea anyway, so I'm bound to not like much on Bridge 9 or in any underground hardcore scene.

I mean that they don't consider anything on Fat Wreck to even be a worthy listening for a real punk/hardcore fan. Fat Wreck doesn't even really have any hardcore bands and never really have. All I can think of is Western Addiction.

Blackjaw_x (June 24, 2009)

mikexdude (June 24, 2009)

It's true.

SloaneDaley (June 24, 2009)

considering Toronto is one of those scene you mention Brian, I'll agree. Like there is no way anything Revelation or Fat Wreck or Bridge 9 could be worth anything. I once read someone from here call Gorilla Biscuits a shitty pop punk band. (Although, Fucked Up really took the mold and smashed it as they'll do shows with Sex Vid but also shows with Final Fantasy)

inagreendase (June 24, 2009)

Really? I don't know man, I've seen it from both sides. I'm not shitting on the B9 or Deathwish thing though. They put out some stuff I'm not into, and MRR fawns over some boring retreads from time to time. I still think both camps make great music.

You're a rare exception. It's true a decent majority of B9/Deathwish followers probably aren't too into this whole "scene," but I think it's less about their tastes and more that all these Brooklyn/D.C./etc. hardcore scenes are pretty closed off and about 95% less commercial/publicized. And while that's totally admirable they've still got shitty, stuck-up attitudes about it that pretty much alienate anyone with even more marginally eclectic taste in hardcore (let alone modern underground music) when hardcore was initially started as a haven for the alienated. It's backwards and sort of altruistic.

mikexdude (June 24, 2009)

I agree. Both sides have gems.

And yeah, I've never seen it the other way around. Especially bridge 9. I've never heard anyone listen to Government Warning and say "this isn't real hardcore." I mean, to be fair, I wouldn't call crime in stereo's is dead a hardcore album, but even songs to scream at the sun: it's aggressive and progressive and not polished or produced to death. I dunno. it gets pretty bad from what I see.

LawnDay (June 24, 2009)

mikexdude (June 24, 2009)

Haha, because dismissing revival hardcore isn't the same thing at all man. There's good and bad bands in both camps, it's the same shit.

Who here is dismissing revival? Brian gets down to Social Circkle and Career Suicide. To be honest, I've never once heard a hardcore fan dismiss bands of this ilk based on the whole 80s aesthetic; it's definitely the other way around.

I love shit that sounds like the classics, but I like it more when bands push the envelope. Isn't that what hardcore was about (see: Black Flag, Born Against, Man is the Bastard, etc)?

LawnDay (June 24, 2009)

Haha, because dismissing revival hardcore isn't the same thing at all man. There's good and bad bands in both camps, it's the same shit.

inagreendase (June 23, 2009)

I'm sorry, what was I thinking. [insert generic generalization about bridge 9 bands and how hardcore is only good if it sounds like it came out in 1984]

mikexdude (June 23, 2009)

Oh yeah... and COKE bust's LINES in the sand. Good eye. I wonder if they did that on purpose/

mikexdude (June 23, 2009)

That last comment was by me, not Waitingroom.

waitingroom (June 23, 2009)

Is this one of those bands where you go attend their show and get dirty looks the whole time because they sense you also listen to Bridge 9 hardcore?

They can come off that way, but all very nice people.

theonetruebill (June 23, 2009)

Why yes as a matter of fact I do listen to good hardcore.

Never really liked this band but don't have anything particularly against them. Their interview in the new MRR was alright.

scientistrock (June 23, 2009)

Heh, LINES in the sand.

wonton (June 23, 2009)

Mike would have been the one to post this.

skankin_in_the_pit (June 23, 2009)

"Is this one of those bands where you go attend their show and get dirty looks the whole time because they sense you also listen to Bridge 9 hardcore?"

You could've kept that shorter by asking "Is this a good hardcore band?"

I'm sure you'd be made fun of by a bunch of BSD's and theonetruebill's.

asxyouxwish (June 23, 2009)

Is this one of those bands where you go attend their show and get dirty looks the whole time because they sense you also listen to Bridge 9 hardcore?

sorta, but not really.

mattramone (June 23, 2009)

Are they an edge band?

inagreendase (June 23, 2009)

Is this one of those bands where you go attend their show and get dirty looks the whole time because they sense you also listen to Bridge 9 hardcore?

overdefined (June 23, 2009)

I've been looking forward to this release. Still going to check it out.

waitingroom (June 23, 2009)

Cool.