Since By Man - Pictures from the Hotel Apocalypse (Revelation)

I learned in a meeting that the new, hip way to say positive and negative is ‘plus’ and ‘delta.’ Then I learned that some corporate opportunists out there sit in office in their power-chairs thinking of new buzz words to replace the old, archaic language of past corporate culture. So here it goes. Plus: I thought the closing track, “Photographer ex Post Facto,” was a solid track. Delta: I could name drop about ten bands that have already done this release. By “done” I mean recorded, released, toured, and compiled a “Best Of” album with a few of these tracks. Overall, Pictures From the Hotel Apocalypse was a struggle between my better sense of judgment and the >> button. I suppose I could toss this under that big grey pile of jewel cases and scratched seven inches that would be considered some type of hardcore, but frankly this just sounds of bits and pieces strewn together from every band who decided to combine screaming and odd time signatures over the past ten years. The lyrics aren’t terrible, but they aren’t great either. The photo insert was nice, but please leave the cliché blood capsule shots to the lesser Victory bands.

- Tyler Moore