Slices-Cruising

Artist: Slices
Album: Cruising
Release: 2010
Label: Iron Lung

Tracklist:

1. Medusa
2. Nightmare Man
3. Red Raft
4. John's Public Hell
5. Floodlight
6. Robbie
7. Mike's Insane Problem
8. Guide To Incest
9. Laughing While Eating

Slices' debut LP was my most anticipated release of 2010, partially because I don't really ever know what's scheduled for release and partially because they're one of my favorite bands going at the moment. Their first two 7"s absolutely blew me away and it became evident that the band had captured the throne of Pittsburgh true hardcore warriorkings from the semi-inactive/inebriated Brain Handle (who still tower over most others.) I can say with confidence that with this LP, Slices have capitalized on the promise of their 7"s and have produced their finest work yet.

Crusing takes its cues from the 16oh 7" track "Cave Crawl" and the Home Invasion 7", which may come as a disappointment to those who loved their faster, more straightforward hardcore material. I guess that means they aren't hardcore warriors, then. Oh well. While I did prefer the 16oh 7" to the Home Invasion one, I must admit that the band did the right thing by following this path. Taking their Pittsburgh hardcore sound and marrying it to noise-rock a la Landed, the band has truly found its sound.

I find the entire record to be absolutely incredible and its only fault is that it's a little lopsided, as the A-side rules, but the B-side is flawless. The first side opens up with "Medusa," which is classic Slices and flows into the surprising "Nightmare Man." Whether or not the band intended for it, the guitar riff is straight-up pop-punk. It's certainly unexpected, but it works gloriously. As a matter of fact, it's not the quality of the A-side that makes it live in the shadow of the B-side, but more the sequencing, in that there are less conventional songs on it. Instead, the band breaks up the flow of things with the intro of "Red Raft" and the sound piece "John's Public Hell." It's not a huge flaw, however, and these moments are quite interesting, particular the latter, which sees the band getting back to its noise roots.

The band returns to its contemporary sound with "Floodlight," which signals the moment in which the record really takes off. Really, it could be easily argued that the quality of the songs grows as the album progresses and the album ends perfectly, with the one-two punch of "Guide To Incest" and "Laughing While Eating." The former is probably the best faster song they've released thus far, even surpassing "Nub City," but the latter is definitely my favorite thing they've ever done. Hilariously-titled and ultra-heavy, "Laughing" plods along in true headbanging goodness with one of the coolest guitar lines I've heard in awhile. Maybe someday the phrase "Cruising Side B" will be a normal part of the punk lexicon.

I can't really speak much more highly about this record. It's certainly not perfect, but it's no doubt a monumental achievement for the band and will definitely proof to be one of the best releases of 2010. Be sure to pick this up from Iron Lung before it's too late.

Also, download this particular link because it is from the masters, straight from the band and not some vinyl rip.

http://www.mediafire.com/?yltzlywnnjj

To order:http://lifeironlungdeath.blogspot.com/2010/03/new-releases-slices-lp-society-nurse-7.html