This is Stretch Arm Strong's third full-length release. They have gained a massive following of devoted fans through their intense live shows with bands such as The Hope Conspiracy and Brother's Keeper.
"A Revolution Transmission" is everything you expect from SAS and more. Building on their traditional foundation they have added a more musical and mature sound. There are more harmonies, more singing, more breakdowns, more background vocals, more lead guitar, and more energy (if that's possible). "The Truth About Iowa" showcases the newly honed SAS sound as it starts off with a really soothing drum, acoustic guitar, piano, and cello instrumental before breaking into driving guitars and pulsating rhythm. The lyrics cover all the bases from touring with friends Shai Hulud and going to shows as a kid to the tragedy of rape. The background vocals are in much more evidence than "Rituals of Life" with multiple vocal parts (male and female), and even a stand-alone choral part sung acappella buried in the middle of "For the Record." The album is rounded off perfectly with a Counting Crows cover of "Angels of the Silences," (a really great song to begin with). And as if all the music is not enough, SAS treats the fans to a multimedia presentation. Slip the disk in the computer and you get two really well put together videos, one of SAS tour in Europe, and the other on the making of the album itself. These aren't cheesy 30-second clip highlights, and they come along with pictures from the European tour and an explanation of the lyrics. You might think my high grade is just evidence that I'm jumping on the bandwagon by giving this a high grade, but there's no denying the rock within.
A-
Other coverage for this album
Decapolis 2001Reviewed by Travis PersaudThis is Stretch Arm Strong's third full-length release. They have gained a massive following of devoted fans through their intense live shows with bands such as The Hope Conspiracy and Brother's Keeper. This is one of the best and purest "hardcore" albums I've heard in a long while. Stretch Arm Strong is one of those unique bands that are able to have insanely intense and aggressive songs, and…Art for the Ears 2001Reviewed by Marco PovervestThe third full length album from the guys of Stretch Arm Strong rotates in my CD-player. The band was started back in 1993 and after eight years they prove to be standard-bearers for the hardcore scene. Their music seems to be the perfect blend of emotion, melody and sheer power. It's energetic hardcore with loud screaming vocals, gang vocals, and with a punk rock attitude to it. A Revolution…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Olin JenkinsStretch Arm Strong (three words, not two), hardcore punk underground band from Columbia, South Carolina, is back with its familiar style, but A Revolution Transmission is a slightly more versatile musical departure from their last two full-length projects, Rituals of Life and Compassion Fills the Void. The guys include their true-to-form, familiar, welcome-to-the-mosh-pit configuration with very…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Josh SpencerMore of the same creative juxtaposition of hardcore with indie rock and a pinch of metal, though perhaps not as fresh or as aggressive as their Solid State debut (they had an earlier independent release also). The songs might be more diverse, with more actual singing and even some piano, but it's not different enough to turn off old fans or bring in new ones. Their most compelling moments are…Similar sounding releases
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