Folly

Resist Convenience (2006)

Brian Shultz

New Jersey's Folly has much in common with HORSE the Band. Both are metal/hardcore acts who bring some particularly unique trait to the table that may garner them some "gimmick" labels, but in turn provide an at least somewhat comical look at the genre and thus welcome the environment of fun records and shows. For HORSE, it's their fascination with Nintendo video games and the sound effects that go with it. For Folly, it's randomly integrated ska upstrokes. And like HORSE, Folly delivers an improvement upon their last record, tinkering a bit with their sound and coming out with positive results. However, Folly have all but departed the genre's usually tight confines with Resist Convenience.

For starters, Folly are not only more musically ambitious, but even more playful on their second effort for Triple Crown. At any given time, the guitars may chug along or ring out Aquabats-like frenziness, all the whilst following lung-shattering screams. You'll suddenly hear a bout of swirling guitars and a dance beat drum fill on "Bonfire of the Manatees" seemingly concocted my James DeWees for a Reggie and the Full Effect song, while several minutes later "False Evidence Appearing Real" offers both death metal moments and upbeat gang vocals and singing seconds later. And not just the sorta hip-hop flow that Folly sometimes employs; no, there's singing, the melodic kind, which honestly tends to sound like Park's Ladd Mitchell. It's not heavily used, but when it is, it's effective. It's honestly amazing how much the comparison hits in "The Wake;" never have Folly's melodic tendencies been put forth so strongly here, but in any event it really does convey the outstanding moment of Convenience: sincerely great and memorable emotional punk at its finest, which in any right is an odd description for Folly fans to read. Don't fret if there are fears Folly has forgotten about their trademark third wave nods, as "Broken" bookends tightly wound metalcore with uptempo ska/reggae grooves. However, there's even more genre-hopping in "Forfeit Sundials," which recalls mates of state Thursday with reserved post-hardcore twinkling and commanding drum rolls.

Folly are a talented bunch who've strengthed their qualities to the point where deeming them merely a "joke" band is far out of the question. Resist Convenience is an apt title, as it's really a melting pot of styles where throwing in just the right amount of foreign ingredients makes for a great stew.

MP3
False Evidence Appearing Real

STREAM
Bonfire of the Manatees