Rocker (feedbot)
Platinum Member
Hardcore is starting to appear to encompass an ever increasing range of musical styles, but at its heart, hardcore remains more than just a sound; it’s an attitude, a community, a feeling. With their fourth full length release, ‘Alone Together’, Show Me The Body capture this spirit better than ever before. A direct call to arms, ‘Alone Together’ tackles themes such as personal loss, grief and political turmoil in modern America, but remains at its core a positive force of nature, focussing on the power of collective love and direct action in the face of adversity.
Opening with the horn drenched, spoken word ‘Overture’, the album blasts out of the gates in earnest with the charging, catchy ‘Eat For Peace’, as frontman Julian Pratt implores “Radical love compels me to fight”, a lyric that perfectly embodies the album’s message of standing together in times of darkness, both politically and on a more personal, immediate level. Much like the music, the words are direct and hit hard with Pratt’s no frills delivery. “I try to be a man about it, what the fuck even that mean” ponders Pratt on the plaintive, restrained ‘See You Again’, a song dealing with personal bereavement. “No grave or cemetery will keep you from me” he further implores, over melancholic banjo and deep bass groove.
In an album with no dull moments, ‘Dance In The USA’ is a standout. A bass heavy, danceable rage fuelled tirade against the capitalist hellscape of modern low-wage America. “It’s a fool’s game but I ain’t gonna lose… dance to the minimum wage” screams Pratt over gritty bass, choppy guitar licks and a funk induced beat. Similarly, the closing title track is an absolute juggernaut of sound as crushing bass, irresistible grooves and heavily distorted riffs underpin some of Pratt’s most heartfelt vocals to date. The dry, unfussy yet clear production only adds to the album’s direct nature too, with Pratt’s standout voice cutting clearly through the punchy music.
‘Alone Together’ is an album for our times, a hard hitting response to the turmoil in the modern western world, a reminder of the power of unity within our culture, of standing together and supporting one another, a true tenet of hardcore culture. It’s also the most direct and focused the band have sounded thus far, a collection of songs that will undoubtedly translate perfectly to the live setting. The spirit of hardcore is alive and well.
ADAM FIRTH
Opening with the horn drenched, spoken word ‘Overture’, the album blasts out of the gates in earnest with the charging, catchy ‘Eat For Peace’, as frontman Julian Pratt implores “Radical love compels me to fight”, a lyric that perfectly embodies the album’s message of standing together in times of darkness, both politically and on a more personal, immediate level. Much like the music, the words are direct and hit hard with Pratt’s no frills delivery. “I try to be a man about it, what the fuck even that mean” ponders Pratt on the plaintive, restrained ‘See You Again’, a song dealing with personal bereavement. “No grave or cemetery will keep you from me” he further implores, over melancholic banjo and deep bass groove.
In an album with no dull moments, ‘Dance In The USA’ is a standout. A bass heavy, danceable rage fuelled tirade against the capitalist hellscape of modern low-wage America. “It’s a fool’s game but I ain’t gonna lose… dance to the minimum wage” screams Pratt over gritty bass, choppy guitar licks and a funk induced beat. Similarly, the closing title track is an absolute juggernaut of sound as crushing bass, irresistible grooves and heavily distorted riffs underpin some of Pratt’s most heartfelt vocals to date. The dry, unfussy yet clear production only adds to the album’s direct nature too, with Pratt’s standout voice cutting clearly through the punchy music.
‘Alone Together’ is an album for our times, a hard hitting response to the turmoil in the modern western world, a reminder of the power of unity within our culture, of standing together and supporting one another, a true tenet of hardcore culture. It’s also the most direct and focused the band have sounded thus far, a collection of songs that will undoubtedly translate perfectly to the live setting. The spirit of hardcore is alive and well.
ADAM FIRTH