Holding On

Question What You Live For (2002)

Jim

Bridge 9 is a great label, and there have been many times that I've discovered an impressive new band that called this label home. But this is not one of those times. "Question What You Live For" eh?
Maybe these guys should take their own advice, I hear there's good money in selling insurance. But seriously, this is a very mediocre CD.

The lyrics are dull and predictable and all the songs just seem to run together. By the time you realize the first song is over, you're on track 4. I've listened to this atleast eight times, and I still can't get into. I really wanted to like this CD, but I couldn't. Holding On playing your typical straight forward, fast hardcore, and since most of this album maintains the same pace, it can become really tedious after about five tracks. I don't have a problem with a band sticking to the same style if it works, but this really doesn't work on any level. If played well, this style of hardcore can be fun and energetic, Holding On doesn't do this well enough to hold my interest.

I know alot of people are going to say something like "Holding On are some of the nicest guys ever" or "Holding On is the hardest working band ever", but I really don't care. It's good that the band is willing to work hard and that they're cool to talk to, but that certainly does not make them good. Maybe "you haven't heard this band 'til you've heard them live", I still don't care, I'm reviewing this CD, not their live show. This is the type of album you lose track of for a couple months, until you find it in the case of the CD you were really looking for.