Review Summary: No BS Australian hardcore? Why the hell not?
Sometimes, you are a product of your environment. Many bands these days, for example, that are founded in bigger cities often prop them in overcrowded and temporarily “hot” genres, and more often than not will dissipate almost as quickly as a certain publication will deem them saviours of the scene. Conversely, there’s something about those small-time bands that seems that much more genuine- without as many opportunities as those closer to the hotspots, they feel a certain need to prove themselves. From the small Shoalhaven area of New South Wales, Australia, Silverback are such a band. Their mission statement is all too simple- present the listener with some short, fast, loud and very aggressive hardcore. Whilst certainly on the short side, the band’s debut EP
Bigger Than Beijing certainly succeeds on the band’s own terms.
The five songs here predominantly revolve around the belligerent, hostile barks and screams of Silverback’s heavily tattooed vocalist, known as XLeeXBoiX (why yes, he
is straight edge- did you notice?). Whether the issue be those who “sell out” the straight edge way of life (World War X), the globalisation of music scenes (N/A) or even paedophilia (Spider Man), young master Lee sounds incredibly volatile, at breaking point even. His commanding yelps also prove to have an impressive amount of range and depth, growling out lower notes and piercing higher-octave screeches with little to no strain present. “Now look, you’re no better than them”, he roars in “World War X”. “We used to stand side by side/Now, we go toe to toe”. Whomever the song is aimed at, the vocal delivery is with such antagonism and gusto you’re certainly glad it isn’t you.
The music is, comparatively, a little unremarkable at times. The skill is certainly there, but it occasionally feels more to take a backseat to the demanding lead vocals. For what it’s worth, however, the heavily-toned guitars and the unrelenting down-tuned riffage that is supplied by them chug along vigorously; and the band rarely, if at all, resort to the ever-so-typical one note drone of the “breakdown” that plague many of their contemporaries. The energy level doesn’t drop for one second during the entire EP, and this is certainly assisted by the unstoppable force of the band’s musicality. In particular, the song “Spider Man” provides for a certain musical highlight. Over an ocean of distorted hum, an almost childlike guitar picking emerges that gives the song an almost creepy feel, especially when placed in context of the song’s unpleasant subject matter (“Look what you’ve done to me/You have killed my youthful days/Now it is time to kill your sick ways”). Each song on
Bigger Than Beijing is purposeful and genuinely exciting- something that is rare in not only a debut release, but on any release in recent times.
No, Silverback aren’t here to reinvent the wheel. Nor are they attempting to. Given, however, that the total length of the EP is around ten minutes over five songs (punk rock or what?), we could certainly do with a little more substance next time around. Having said that? For a band in the teeth-cutting process, Silverback have most definitely impressed.
