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More and more these days, it seems like it doesn't take very long for a hardcore band to really find their sound. Granted, many of them never really last far beyond their initial recordings, but these same bands seemed to really find their voice early on.

Sinking Ships' Disconnecting could be the pinnacle of this very idea.

Frontman Danny Hesketh is the sibling of Jim Hesketh, vocalist for the now defunct Champion, and that could be one of the reasons the band has always had that comparative shadow hanging over their heads. It's safe to say that while the band is likely to find that RIYL stuck at the end of most reviews for Disconnecting (as well as Bane, Stay Gold and In My Eyes), they'll avoid any dismissals because of it this time around. The band's brand of emotional hardcore is far more progressive than any of those bands, providing a dynamic sorely missing in their peers with a guitar tone that requires chiropractic attention the nods to latter-era Turning Point are so strong, not to mention the healthy usage of briefly worded song titles and heartfelt, open lyrics.

Lyrically, the band suffers from a few blunt missteps that plagued their EP compilation, Meridian. However, it's really just 2 similarly silly moments, both occurring in the first 2 tracks: "Give Up" ("To the ones who never felt this way / Fuck the ones that never felt this way") and "Auburn" ("It was colder then (Well fuck back then)"). Otherwise, the band weaves tales of outright desperation, foregoing generic posi sloganeering and straight-edge posturing in exchange for dark suicide notes ("I can't expect you to cut loose every noose I wrap around myself" in "Comfort") and, like Modern Life Is War, small town analysis ("These open fields are an easy bed to lay down and die in"). Greyscale liner notes contribute to the melancholic effect well.

There really isn't even really a mediocre song to be found here, either. However, standouts would have to be the well written, mid-tempo reflection of "Ghost Story," the absolutely attention-grabbing breakdown of "Shadows," the excellent cameo from Shook Ones' Scott Freeman in "The Next Time I Go" (despite the horrible compression on his vocals audible on a good pair of headphones), the fake intro giving way to the absolutely raw and pounding guitars and drums in "Give Up," and the pure emotion of "Comfort." Though, the best two tracks that more or less bookend the album really shine. "Auburn" is one of the best songs the band's written yet, Hesketh frequently speeding up and slowing down his delivery during the verses, a perfect guitar tune transition to the chorus and, well, a fantastic chorus, with a bridge that hits an emotional peak and keeps the tempo driving to close it out.

But "Wait"...wow. Modern Life Is War proved for nearly an entire album's worth last year that restraint can go a long way when playing creative, melancholic hardcore punk, and Sinking Ships seemed to get the memo. A lone, perfect guitar riff separated to the right speaker initiates it, a subtle tap on the cymbals steps in momentarily, and then the drums fully kick in and the riff is duplicated. Hesketh begins to spout more proof of confusion and desperation; when he finally confesses "Trying to make some sense of a life spent searching aimlessly / When for us, this is everything," his lines suddenly start trading off with gang vocals saturated in urgency screaming "I WON'T WAIT! I WON'T WAIT FOR NOTHING!." It's a climax that quite literally lasts over a minute, with Hesketh seemingly clutching at nothing and yelling at song's end "Trying / Reaching / Breathing / But still out of breath again / Out of words again / Trying to explain everything / But I can't say anything" before it feels like his words are abruptly cut off.

And it ends.

A song that simply leaves you breathless and wanting more, leading you to realize there's nothing to fulfill this except pressing play again.

With Disconnecting, Sinking Ships have proved themselves to be one of the best, most important hardcore bands going. They take a number of chances on the album all the while taking minor cues from some of the most well-respected acts in their genre. This not only goes a long way towards making a good hardcore album a great one, but proves it may even just be the beginning of things to come.

Outstanding debut.

Auburn
The Next Time I Go

STREAM
Comfort



People who liked this also liked:
This Is Hell - SundowningThe Loved Ones - Keep Your HeartRefused - The Shape of Punk to ComeShook Ones - Facetious Folly FeatCrime in Stereo - The Troubled StatesideAgainst Me! - is Reinventing Axl RoseAgainst Me! - As The Eternal CowboyKid Dynamite - Kid DynamiteModern Life Is War - WitnessVerse - From Anger and Rage



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    Posted by BisonChris on 2006-11-19 17:56:33
    My Score:

    id say the vocals sound more like comeback kid then bane (albeit bane and cbk vocals are similair), aaron bedard is the man btw, but none the less, this is an ill cd, pick it up

    Posted by boba_fett on 2006-07-20 18:22:56
    My Score:

    the vocals sound just like bane.

    Posted by joeg on 2006-07-20 13:50:09

    funny, the reason i can get into this record is because they don't sound like comeback kid or champion and aren't one dimensional. i can see the vocal similarities and i'm not big on gang vocals but that's about it.

    Posted by kirbypuckett on 2006-07-20 08:58:39
    My Score:

    This band is sooooooooooo good. rightrightrightrightright.

    - Kirby

    Posted by Propadummy on 2006-07-19 16:47:14

    This band is crap.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 19, 2006 at 2:48 PM (EDT)

    straightedge bands always sound the same

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 19, 2006 at 9:50 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I meant this score

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 19, 2006 at 9:45 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    For some reason for all the Champion comparisons I was never able to get into Champion but these guys I was hooked from the first song I heard.

    - APK

    Posted by danperrone on 2006-07-19 09:20:37

    all i see is "suk"

    Posted by sinkingshipsuk on 2006-07-19 06:27:03

    Check www.myspace.com/sinkingshipsuk for the real Sinking Ships, I see a conflict of names...

    Posted by Archangel on 2006-07-19 01:45:24

    What should I get: this album or "Sundowning"?

    Posted by Anchors on 2006-07-19 01:37:21
    My Score:

    Oh, also, score's for Stay Gold.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 9:02 PM (EDT)

    I have, I live in Seattle, I hear them all the time. And they sound the same. Many have agreed. Sorry, deal with it.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 6:27 PM (EDT)

    "I hear this band way too much around here. Sorry guys, I get Champion, Comeback Kid, and Sinking Ships totally confused. I'm almost positive it's the same band. I mean, there really is no difference between songs......"

    Well you get the "deaf retard of the day" award.
    I mean, have you listened to any of those bands?!

    -b. styles

    Posted by thirtyseconds on 2006-07-18 17:53:46

    Well, if I could afford CDs I would buy this. Night lads

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 5:44 PM (EDT)

    This Ship Will Sink is fucking sick.

    I havent heard this band but i might chick them out.

    -sirens

    Posted by onegirlarmy on 2006-07-18 16:05:34
    My Score:

    Good album, good band.

    Posted by Anchors on 2006-07-18 14:49:47

    Posted by kirbypuckett on 2006-07-18 09:14:11
    ...the review was better when I read it w/ your Long Island accent though.

    Ahahahahahhahah

    Posted by WilliamMarinovic on 2006-07-18 13:26:51

    Of all the times to fuck up my spelling... SANK.

    Posted by WilliamMarinovic on 2006-07-18 13:26:27

    "I must be missing the boat on this, dont really care for it-oldpunker-"

    Perhaps you didn't miss the boat... I'm thinking it SUNK.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 9:54 AM (EDT)

    I must be missing the boat on this, dont really care for it-oldpunker-

    Posted by danperrone on 2006-07-18 09:30:41

    i hate how "wait" just ends!!!!

    other than that, awesome cd

    Posted by xtearitdownx on 2006-07-18 09:27:41

    This is a great release, most definitely.

    Posted by kirbypuckett on 2006-07-18 09:14:11

    Good review, I def. have to check this out.

    ...the review was better when I read it w/ your Long Island accent though.

    - Kirby

    Posted by primeevil7 on 2006-07-18 08:44:31

    I cleaned up my W/IFS review for pastepunk and submitted it here, so maybe that's why it's not up yet...

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 5:59 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    the world inferno record is sooooooooooooooooo good.

    I've had mayor of bridgewater stuck in my head since the speak of brave men EP so its about time they got it out.

    Is it going to be on vinyl, anyone know?

    score is for the world inferno friendship society

    wyzo

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 5:30 AM (EDT)

    where the fuck is the world inferno review

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 2:43 AM (EDT)

    Bigwig review?

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 1:36 AM (EDT)

    I hear this band way too much around here. Sorry guys, I get Champion, Comeback Kid, and Sinking Ships totally confused. I'm almost positive it's the same band. I mean, there really is no difference between songs......

    Posted by pwfanatic on 2006-07-18 01:13:41

    fucking solid release. these guys are awesome.

    Posted by WilliamMarinovic on 2006-07-18 01:08:51

    This Ship Will Sink is ten times better.

    Posted by rkl on 2006-07-18 01:07:10

    who are the bronx?

    Posted by etwiels88 on 2006-07-18 01:04:10
    My Score:

    Not enough people were at the show in Jersey a few months back...

    Great band.

    Posted by joeg on 2006-07-18 00:58:22
    My Score:

    i'm not really a fan of modern hardcore but this record is excellent. there's a lot going on here and not generic filler that have me wanting to skip ahead to the next track. well done guys.

    Posted by ramo on 2006-07-18 00:42:36
    My Score:

    If it wasn't for This is Hell's "Sundowning", this would've been the hardcore album to beat. Regardless, an outstanding effort. Hopefully this band won't meet the same fate as fellow older "sibling" Champion.

    Ramo

    Posted by tapemarks_and_brakelights on 2006-07-18 00:40:15
    My Score:

    definitely one of the best, if not the best, hardcore albums released this year.

    i just put this in for the first time in a while (i left the cd at my friend's house), and i realized now how much i missed not having it.

    anyways. this album is fucking great. seriously. i like when hardcore bands aren't always positive.

    and the shook ones cameo is awesome.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 12:36 AM (EDT)

    whats a friday?

    Posted by colin on 2006-07-18 00:34:29

    where's the bronx review?

    Posted by inagreendase on 2006-07-18 00:24:16

    TO PRE-EMPT QUESTIONS: The Bronx review goes up Friday.

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