I'm sure they're nice guys and all...but without going into too much cynical detail...
Clear Convictions play a tough-guy style hardcore. I guess these guys are the cream of the crop in the Puerto Rico hardcore scene, which is apparently thriving. They've played with Madball, No Innocent Victim, Figure Four, Sinai Beach and Bloody Sunday, which is a decent resume. So, I thought in my mind, they've maybe got some SKILLs, and if they are from Puerto Rico, maybe there is something new here, something innovative, untainted by the pressures of American hardcore, heck, even something in another language I would consider mildly creative.
I took a look at the cover, it's pretty much about the same as any XdiscipleX A.D. album cover art I've ever seen. Then I popped in the cd. Their sound is akin to Figure Four or No Innocent Victim. Hopelessly influenced.
For the most part, they're all on the same page, which is good. But it kind of works against them in this case, the chugs are perfectly in time with the bass drum hits and the screams (in English) fit right along with both. I don't even know if they have a bass player, I didn't listen that hard, but I'm guessing he chugged with the guitars. The musicians never stray from each other for more than a few notes, and it gets a little monotonous.
Some improvements to consider: a different producer (the bass drum sounded terrible and separate, like it was recorded in a different session), and a little less influence-on-your-sleeve wearing. I'd like to see a little more culture coming through their sound. Some whispered Spanish parts would be sweet, a little Latin guitar intro here and there, and definitely, a better stab at forging their own style.
I admire the efforts of Strikefirst Records to look beyond the bounds of the United States (see Germany's "Opposition of One" and "Clear Convictions") to find some fresh hardcore. Perhaps they need to look somewhere a little more remote...Tibet?
1/4
