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xLooking Forwardx - The Path We Tread

 

	RELEASED: 2005 PRODUCER:Eric Rachel LABEL:Facedown Records BAND: Justin Chaillou Josh Chaillou Kevin Doherty Kevin O’Brien
+ -	TRACKS: 1.Disappearing Act 2.You're Worth It 3. Path We Tread 4.Not For Sale 5.Sidelines 6.Agree To Disagree 7.All Aces 8. Heroes Of Your Revolution 9. Year From Now 10.Displacement Theory 11.For Those Who Believe 12.Take Care 13.Over And Over 14. Each Step 15.Waste Of Time 16.Good Intentions 17. I Ain't Mad At Cha 18.Gimme Two Steps 18. War Tells All

OVERVIEW

“You kids today don’t even know hardcore anymore!”
Yep, that’s an actual lyric on this album, and it fits the idea behind “The Path We Tread” perfectly.  Anybody miss the days before hardcore had a bunch of subgenres (moshcore, deathcore, emocore, bla bla bla)?  Do you think of bands like Hatebreed and Throwdown as not ‘core because they mix too much metal into their sound?  Do you worship bands like Dead Kennedys, Stormtroopers of Death, and Minor Threat?
Are you sXe for LIFE???!?
Then this is your album.
Bold, brash, fast, in your face, and even occasionally catchy, xLFx’s “The Path We Tread” is a modern throwback to the glory days of hardcore, the kind of stuff that makes an old school crowd go from zero to slam dancing and stage diving right from the opening drumroll.  Forsaking such frivolities as drawn-out song intros and interludes, xLfx goes straight for the gut on practically every track with a double-kick-led attack complemented by razor sharp guitars, and while punk isn’t famous for musicianship, these guys clearly are a cut above most musicians of their genre, as their music somehow manages to remain tight rhythmically in the midst of a breakneck speed punk assault.  Impressive, indeed.

SONGS

Just like the good old days, all these songs are basically short bursts of hardcore punk fury, and “Disappearing Act” is really more of a chance to prepare for the oncoming mosh and a hardcore call to arms than a real song.  “You’re Worth It” explodes right out of the gate with rapid-fire double kick and the aforementioned riffing, and “The Path We Tread” is a mission statement of sorts about xLFx’s dedication to providing love to those they play for (the band is unashamedly Christian).  “Not For Sale” is a flat-out rejection of drug culture (I said they were straight edge, right?), and that feeds right into the “Sidelines”, which the quote at the top of the review is from.  “Agree to Disagree” laments a lost friendship and begs reconciliation, “All Aces” features one of the best breakdowns on the record, and “Heroes of Your Revolution” questions the motivation of some supposed “nonconformists” (I love the breakdown on this one too).  Noticing a trend?  Most of these songs are best distinguished by the subject matter, as they kind of tend to sound similar after awhile, but if you’re a fan of the genre, that’s no bad thing.  “A Year From Now” is another anthem of dedication to the hardcore scene and their hometown fans, which leads into the more somber “Displacement Theory”, a song about regret that’s best summed up by the closing lyric, “Why can’t things be the way they were?!”.  “For Those Who Believe” boasts an incredibly tight palm-muting performance from both guitars, and the tone darkens up a bit as the resolve rises with “Take Care” and “Over and Over”, which is no bad thing.  “Each Step” is more of the same, and “Waste of Time” features more gang vocals and (gasp) another stompin’ breakdown.  The first real change of pace we get (sort of) is “Good Intentions) which is probably as close to the pop side of punk as this band will ever get, but that’s not saying much.  “I Ain’t Mad at Cha” reminds me of vintage Stretch Arm Strong, and “Gimme Two Steps” is basically a (relatively) slow prelude to the final track “War Tells All”, which manages to encompass everything xLFx does right in a punishing closer.

CONCLUSION

With 19 songs and none running longer than 2:24, this album is basically a 29-minute triple shot of hardcore punk adrenaline, which I think is great in today’s music scene.  They’re old school and unapologetic, and even if their songs tend to run together, this disc is in your face, raw, and sincere – in other words, for what it is, it’s pretty good.  Pick it up if you’re a fan of bands like old Stretch Arm Strong, Agnostic Front, and Gorilla Biscuits, and you won’t be disappointed.

Review by Matt Rewinski

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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