Trapped Under Ice
Big Kiss Goodnight
Reaper Records (2011)
Sounds like: Crown of Thornz, Biohazard, Breakdown
Score: 10/10
I’ll be the first to admit it: I’m a Trapped Under Ice fan. Rumors of anger issues and broken jaws aside, I’ve been following them since they released their demo in 2007. A humble release back then, the band has risen in popularity and is arguably the biggest name in hardcore today.
Enter: Big Kiss Goodnight. BKG is Trapped Under Ice’s fifth release, and their second full-length behind 2009’s Secrets of the World. I found that album a little underwhelming with its blown-out production and the band’s choice to stray away from their signature hardcore groove. They fell off my radar after SOTW but two years later, I was pleasantly surprised to hear that they were releasing new material. With production by Chad Gilbert and countless months of touring and writing under their belts, I felt TUI was bound to write a solid record.
And they did. Trapped Under Ice returned with a heavy, menacing record that brings them back to their demo days…and they’ve added a few improvements as well. One of these improvements is a verse/chorus/verse song structure that is traditionally used in genres other than hardcore. This is prevalent in several of the thirteen tracks including the opener, “Born to Die.” The song “Disconnect” uses this format exceptionally well as the crashing drums and chugging guitars come to a thunderous, rhythmic climax. This may sound a little iffy to hardcore/punk connoisseurs, since punk traditionally uses little/no structure, but the band manages to pull it off without exhausting the format. And boy, do they do it well.
Music-wise each instrument on the record sounds crisp and clean. Drummer Brendan Yates does a great job of staying true to traditional hardcore drumming and each fill is impressive. The guitars (by Sam Trapkin and Brad Hyra) float between simple and technical as the signature groove of the band unravels itself in each song. The leads add depth without stealing the spotlight from frontman Justice Tripp, whose vocals remain full of aggression and a sense of urgency. His lyrics revolve around topics such as finding his place in this world (“Draw the Line”) and heartbreak (“True Love”). Tripp’s writing truly shines in “Victimized” where he shouts with strong conviction “You’ve been fed lies/We’ve been robbed blind/Put the past behind, it’s time to unite/It’s we who’ve been victimized.” Though a little cliché at times, Justice’s lyrics are some of the best in the genre.
If you’re looking for a great example of modern hardcore, listen to this. Big Kiss Goodnight stands as one of my favorite releases of 2011, and possibly my favorite hardcore record of the year. I have a feeling it will become a relic that only gets better with age.
-Ian Caramanzana
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