As raw hard music gains momentum in the hard music underground, one of the bands riding this current wave is South Carolina natives, Stretch Arm Strong. The new album is named Engage, and it's on more of a melodic thread than Revolution Transmission and Rituals of Life, their other produce.
Although S.A.S. plays something called "posi-core" (positive hard-core), the band isn't Christian and not all the members are Christians. Musically S.A.S. is like taking a weaker Comeback Kid, a more melodic Deal, and the tough guy tendencies of Squad 5-0, then throwing it all together with nice slogans, sing alongs, and "pit-fuel" for lyrical crafting. Think of a band that used to play a mix of melodic hard-core with a slight edge to it, then remix it and reproduce it so it's even more melodic. So much so, that it's almost "Pop Hard-core." Although the CD wouldn't be all that great, their show is rumored to be very "energetic and lively," and could be a great show to check out if a person wants to just let their hair down and mosh and sing along like there's no tomorrow.
2.5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
Decapolis January 2004Reviewed by Nate BaileyI have S.A.S's previous two albums and would consider myself a fan. That being said, most of the reports I heard about their newest album about the time it came out, was that it wasn't worth picking up. Were they right? The album begins with two songs that fit the classic S.A.S. sound then moves onto a song that is less hardcore than punk. There are several more songs like it throughout the…Art for the Ears 2003Reviewed by Marco PovervestAfter two successful albums, Stretch Arm Strong returns with Engage. Still you can hear that catchy hardcore that combines melody and aggression so easily. Yet, after listening to the album a great many times, I can't get as excited as before. It's not the production that makes me feel a bit disappointed. On the contrary, Engage has a very neat sound in which each instrument is essential. What I…Similar sounding releases
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