With bands such as Iron Maiden and Foo Fighters rockin’ three guitars and still oozing class you would be forgiven for having high expectations from Philadelphia outfit, Goddamnit. Aside from having a ridiculously cool name, (not so cool if you’re a Christian), the quintet made up of misfits (members from bands that no longer exist) really shouldn’t work. But somehow, on debut album ‘How To Take The Burn’ it does.
Opening with Hear About It there is a feeling that Goddamnit may have peaked to soon. Packaging an abundance of melody, razor sharp riffs, gravelly vocals, lyrics that convey a grit determination with gang vocals thrown in for good measure all in under two and a half minutes. Surely not possible to recreate, right? Wrong! The title track sounds as if it would feel at home on an American Pie soundtrack , while New Perfume’s basic chord progression stands out and leads to a climax that will have fans causing chaos as they scream, “it’s now or never.”
The aggressive nature of the post hardcore Quiet Distractions, offers a boisterous disturbance to the comfort zone of the previous songs with No Sleep ‘Til Fishtown sounding similar to fellow American’s Polar Bear Club if they had as many hooks.
‘How To Take The Burn’ is not just finely an album of finely created melodic hardcore nuggets. Goddamnit do throw caution to the wind on occasion. The alluring acoustics of It’s Not Astronomy are an astounding addition to the record and offer a refreshing alternative to the ferocity that preceded.
It’s business as usual on the hostile Dead Sharks Teeth, feeling the beat of every strike of the drum kit and the haunting guitar dynamics this is a gloomy track to head bang your worries away, while the pop-punk goodness of Citywide and the raw emotive rock of It’s Over Now help ease the pain of hearing a couple of mediocre cuts in-between.
Ending the record with the aptly titled With Whiskey, it pleads you to so. It is an acoustic sing-a-long suited for the local tavern, a fitting ending, to be shared with a glass of JD, friends and strangers alike.
Barring a few disappointments, ‘How To Take The Burn’ is on the whole an excellent advert for post hardcore served with a side of melody and lyricism. If that sounds a bit filling then there is plenty of diversity on offer with chorus’s bordering on the contagious and pop sensibilities seasoned to good taste. A delicious effort.
