Running Like Thieves is a new hardcore band coming out of the home of hardcore, New York City. Their first release, Same Time Next Year, is out on an up and coming hardcore label, Livewire Records. Running Like Thieves takes its name from the title of a song from the classic hardcore band, Bold. But there is more to this whole Bold thing. Matt, lead singer of Bold, is now the lead singer of Running Like Thieves but there is more here...some ex-members of a classic post-hardcore band, Supertouch, join the roster as well. (If you don't know who Bold or Supertouch are go to the Revelation Records webpage and check them out.)
I was kind of reluctant to listen to Running Like Thieves at first. With all the hype in the hardcore scene pushing towards metal and away from the fast paced straight up sound of yesterday, I was afraid to hear the same thing from an ex-member band. The last thing I wanted to hear was another metal hardcore band like American Nightmare. I did not hear that with Running Like Thieves. They basically stuck to their guns of the Bold sounding style. They aren't as hard as Bold, they are more technical and more complex than Bold but you can pick up on the Bold sound very easily. Basically it's hardcore mixed with some rock. Original and not annoying or repetitious. They have some great breakdowns and decent mosh parts. The only downfall with this album is the recording. It isn't what it could be. It is not all that clear and it lacks power. The vocals seem to fade in and out a tad. Sometimes they are hard and loud and then other times it seems to be a little bit too low. It basically sounds like the Bold recordings. Musically and lyrically they are very good. The recording left a lot to be desired.
For Bold fans or just fans of old school Revelation hardcore, I would say to pick this up. If you aren't sure than I would wait to see them live...I hear they put on a killer show.
B-
