Album Review
Anchors for Arms - Listen ReactAnchors for Arms - Listen React

New Jersey’s Anchors for Arms set sail with the ambition of reeling in as many new fans as they can with their debut release Listen.React.

Intensity is an understatement for first track ‘The Roots’ which opens with a roar of gang vocals and pummelling drums. The opening few seconds of poppy guitar merely masks the chugging riffs and the unjustified aggression seeping through the bands stick man, who beats his heart out of his kit. This is pleasantly juxtaposed by singer Ryan Lawless’ soothing if not a little monotonous voice.

‘Machines’ kicks straight into a riff which would make Funeral for a Friend proud, before breaking into a passionate explosion of vocals. ‘C’mon let’s go break their arms’ offers some proper post-hardcore with the stranglehold-like grip the track seems to have on you. Its catchiness is hard to miss.

Like any album, the obligatory soft track is required in an attempt to cool down the three piece’s release. Lawless’ vocals appear strong and expressive on track ‘No Gravity’ with a raw hint of Rise Against thrown in for added effect. Nasally vocals equals emotion, well definitely in this case anyhow. After two minutes of fairly typical acoustic-esque music, the drums kick in , quickly followed by ripping guitars to make this track a definite standout.

After the first few tracks the album simply trails off and you get the impression that whilst these guys are clearly impressive musicians, who have a knack for creating cleverly arranged music fused with passion and hardcore, perhaps these guys would have been better releasing two EP’s throughout the year instead of releasing an album which to me seems like it would have benefited for a little bit of extra time.

Track ‘Come Together’ offers the odd noodley guitar riff which perks you up for a little bit but the problem personally is the sheer monotone vocals which seem to remain the same pitch throughout the 11 track release. Whilst track ‘Beyond all Doubt....’ is the first time the band seem excited as the poppier side of the guys is unleashed, still hindered by vocals however this is a surprisingly good song.

Anchors for Arms debut release shows a hell of a lot of promise and they seem to clearly understand the technicalities of what makes a good song, however the disappointment comes when you realised that the vocals have a pitch range as varied at Stephen Hawking and this is turn made what could have been a superb album merely a slightly above average release. Maybe next time try a little EP as a taster, and see how that goes. Good attempt!

3/5

Review by Darrell Blount
 Band Members
Anchors For Arms - Band
Ryan Lawless (Vocals, Bass)
Kenny Donovan (Guitar, Vocals)
Chris Sanders (Guitar, Vocals)
Matt Valenzuela (Drums)
 Track Listing
1. The Roots
2. Machines
3. C'mon Lets Go Break Their Arms
4. No Gravity
5. Dead Weight
6. Explosions
7. Come Together
8. 50 Is Conservative, 60 Is Productive
9. Beyond All Doubt, Hope Lies To Us All
10. On
11. Kingdom Came (It Looks Like We're On Our Own)
 Band Related Links
Anchors For Arms Myspace
 Review Score Code
- Top Cheese
- Brilliant
- Pretty damn good
- Ok I guess
- What Was That?