Such Gold - Misadventures (Album Review)
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Monday, 11 February 2013 |
Written by Owen Sheppard
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Such Gold are the latest exports from New York’s ever thriving hardcore punk scene and their debut ‘Misadventures’ bears all the hallmarks a young, boisterous and emotionally charged first outing ought to.
 Hurtling in with waves of rapid splashes of percussion, ‘Two Year Plan’ is an anecdotal and monastic statement of intent with shaking off apathy, and making something of yourself on your own two feet as its epitaph. The riffs are thick and the lead guitars wiry which benefit the melodies in Ben Kotin’s jerks between guttural fury and emo tinged yelps in the overall barrage.
Immediately on this record you have a reliable, but tried and tested recipe for music of this nature, a few tracks in and you can’t help feel that this is exactly what might be limiting this album. As well as coming across as well constructed and produced, ‘Misadventures’ feels unavoidably generic. It’s something that won’t at all dissuade general fans within this genre, or their peers, of whom Such Gold can now boast the likes of Funeral for a Friend and Four Year Strong, but it may well prevent ‘Misadventures’ really turning heads.
But for anyone who becomes acquainted with the repetitive but demanding instrumental formulas of maniacal drum fills and corkscrewing riffs, Kotin certainly unveils himself as a sophisticated lyricist. The subject matters range from bullying on ‘Committee Circus’ and self-esteem issues- ‘Tell Yourself’, to self-integrity on ‘You Are Your Greatest Threat’ which he uniquely depicts as a struggle between free will versus determinism as an excuse for passive selfishness. Neat and poignant turns of phrase and metaphors make for a more intriguing listen as well, see: “my house stays clean/ When I don’t let people inside”.
For sure, Kotin carries himself as a totally genuine and convincing poet and front man, and the role he plays on Such Gold’s music bears a fair resemblance to the part Jeremy Bolm enacts in Touche Amore. But as far as the music goes on ‘Misadventures’ most of what’s provided by drummer Devan Bently and rhythm section, Nate Derby and Skylar Sarkis, despite their technical prowess rarely provides the focus point of their songs, more a chugging vehicle for Kotin’s performance. And this isn’t really helped by Steve Evetts very polished production.
Typically of all hardcore records though, this album only weighs in at a trim 30 minutes which is just long enough to hold your attention as you race through the 11 good but not great tracks without getting a sense of monotony. Needless to say the real way to enjoy the Such Gold experience will be up close and personal at their shows.
'Misadventures' is out now on Razor & Tie.
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