The Riot Before

The Riot Before: Rebellion [12 inch]Rebellion [12 inch] (2010)
Paper and Plastick

Reviewer Rating: 4.5

User Rating:

Contributed by: MattRamoneMattRamone
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on April 27th 2010Several months ago, three-fourths of the dudes that make up the Riot Before had dinner at my apartment and played a preview of their unmixed upcoming album, which they were recording with music god J Robbins. I was a huge fan of their output up to that point, and figured the dudes responsible for "W.

Several months ago, three-fourths of the dudes that make up the Riot Before had dinner at my apartment and played a preview of their unmixed upcoming album, which they were recording with music god J Robbins. I was a huge fan of their output up to that point, and figured the dudes responsible for "We Are Wild Stallions" and "Take That, the Government!" would be chill.

I was drunk off my face when they played it for me, and I loved it. Nothing has changed now that the official album, called Rebellion, has seen official light of day. You know how some bands are better when you're high? Riot Before are a good band that becomes great when you're drunk to hell and have your arm around your best friends. It's heartfelt in a way that word usually doesn't imply. It's not embarrassing; it's life-affirming.

It's not as folky as their former releases, but I think that makes it even stronger. (Never thought I'd say that about a band from Richmond.) The drums are more chugga chugga than before, like the old rhythms from Johnny Cash's songs about trains. The guitars ring out and punch you in the heart. Brett sings like his soul is on the line, and it comes across as amazingly sincere.

What I like about this record the most is how the hooks emerge upon repeated listens and how much it grows on you. It blossoms from something that sounds vaguely Orgcore into a moving push-and-pull record of tension release. When it gets quiet, you know it's just moments away from exploding into something that will make you pump your fist and flail around whatever room you're in.

Really, my only complaint is that they put a song after shoulda-been closer "Tinnitus," but then again, the Smiths put a song about fat girls after "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out," so what do I know?

Login to rate this album

People who liked this also liked:

Please login or register to post comments.What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?

Share your opinion by posting comments on the stories that interest you
Rate music and bands and help shape the weekly top ten
Let Punknews.org use your ratings to help you find bands and albums you might like
Customize features on the site to get the news the way you want.

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

kcedgebreak (August 30, 2011)

great album.........enough said

UNFUNprone12XU (October 1, 2010)

In the top 10 best albums of 2010 for me.

thegooch (June 9, 2010)

album of the year thus far..."thus" is a weird word to say...b-side from the album is a fuckin killer track too

eran_zombis (May 2, 2010)

This review is more fun than most.

Blackjaw_ (April 28, 2010)

Shley, it sounds like you only listened to the first one or two tracks... this album takes a few listens to fully appreciate it.

Blackjaw_ (April 28, 2010)

Shley, it sounds like you only listened to the first one or two tracks... this album takes a few listens to fully appreciate it.

shley (April 28, 2010)

Really surprised with the first couple tracks on this release, was almost disappointed initially. The vocals seemed too deep and growling but I need to give this a few more listens. Reinforcing the drinking factor combined with fresh wax, the Flatliners Cavalcade and many beers in my living room on Yellow have caused me to rage it up with lots of energy. I'm hoping the white splatter I ordered from Paper Plastic creates a similar scenario.

Tyler92 (April 28, 2010)

Solid, Great tunes really enjoyed this one.

ahopeagainsthope (April 27, 2010)

Damn good album but still not as boner-worthy as is the consensus on the Summit.

piata (April 27, 2010)

Awesome album. Not on single dud on the whole thing. This and Flatliner's Cavalcade are likely to be my favourite albums of the year.

TheChemist (April 27, 2010)

Haha this is a terrible review.

preston (April 27, 2010)

Using the "I was drunk" defense didn't hold up in court with your case against the 8-year-olds. Not gonna hold up here.

banal242 (April 27, 2010)

The chugga chugga drums are a tribute to the late great Jerry Finn.

racecargrin (April 27, 2010)

"Really, my only complaint is that they put a song after shoulda-been closer "Tinnitus."

"To Live How We Believe" is not only perhaps the best song on the album, but also the song with the most closer-friendly lyrics, particularly the last two lines.

Anyway, I think The Riot Before might somehow have known exactly what I was looking for in an album, because that's what Rebellion is.

ashtraymonument (April 27, 2010)

and i thought they couldn't top the last one

inagreendase (April 27, 2010)

I would submit more reviews if I weren't worried that drunk people would submit crap before I had time to write something thoughtful.

This doesn't even make sense. By this logic you don't even stand a chance of usurping the drunken ramblings I'm forced to post from a depletion of content.

Dante3000 (April 27, 2010)

The drums are more chugga chugga than before

Somewhere, MikexDude just winced and he's not sure why.

galen (April 27, 2010)

good thing the first line of this review was "i am completely biased so don't even bother reading the rest of this". so i didn't.

nocigar (April 27, 2010)

lyrics on this are amazing.

slymer (April 27, 2010)

Excellent album. The review isn't that bad. Sheesh!

tris (April 27, 2010)

before I forget, score's for the album.

tris (April 27, 2010)

this is a great album that deserves a better review. no-one gives a shit about 'mattramone' and his drinking antics. you're a punknews caricature, congratulations. now get over yourself.

sumwon (April 27, 2010)

Agreed. I would submit more reviews if I weren't worried that drunk people would submit crap before I had time to write something thoughtful.

whatchokesbegin (April 27, 2010)

the real failure here lies with the punknews.org editors, who clearly will publish anything, including the drunken ramblings of a narcissist.

PaulPendley (April 27, 2010)

4 1/2 stars

PaulPendley (April 27, 2010)

Score is for the album. Which I've been listened to for days and days. Don't need a review to tell me this is one the best records I've heard in a while.

MN_DrNick (April 27, 2010)

Top five for sure thus far in the year 2010 and better than the Menzingers I might also add.

mattramone (April 27, 2010)

To be fair I wrote this review while piss-on-a-cop drunk and blaring the album at 3 AM. This is how it felt to me. In the words of a great, great man, eat a hot bowl of Dicks.

joe_weasel (April 27, 2010)

mattramone - ive read your blog before, and i remember being impressed enough to be excited when i saw your name attached to this review.. but this has to be one of the corniest reviews i have ever read. god damn.

as for the album, ive only listened to it once through, and it hasnt hit me like fists buried in pockets. hope thatll change.

Blackjaw_ (April 27, 2010)

woops, score fixed.

Blackjaw_ (April 27, 2010)

I worship this album. Every song is amazing, there are no particular standouts and no weak tracks. Whatever song I'm listening to at the time is my favourite on the album. The lyrics are beyond wonderful. Easily the album of the year so far.

exitenglish1208 (April 27, 2010)

very good album

Slazey (April 27, 2010)

Not a great review- though I agree that 'Tinnitus' should have closed the album. It's a damn solid record, but this review just ain't doing it justice.

ExtraCheesePizza (April 27, 2010)

This album is just ok.

ffwoodycooks (April 27, 2010)

im gonna have to agree with the last 3 commenters. My wife read this review and it caused her to have a miscarriage.
nice review, asshole.

Rastid (April 27, 2010)

gotta agree with the previous two commenters. this was a horrifically obnoxious review. i was gonna check out the album anyways, and i probably still will. but despite the review, not because of it.

whatchokesbegin (April 27, 2010)

It would be nice if this review was actually about the album instead of MattRamone hanging out with the band and that thinking they are really good when he's drunk. This is one of the worst reviews I've ever read. He doesn't tell us anything about the songs and it's terribly written. Can someone competent and less pretentious (and drunk) review this, please?

sumwon (April 27, 2010)

I would have liked to have seen this reviewed by a less biased writer.

I will check this out, but I feel like this review is setting me up for disappointment since I haven't had personalized drunken singalongs with the band members.