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Rating: In two words: This is Walter Schreifels' new band! Someone with years of important experiences behind him, it's worth mentioning the collaborations with Gorilla Biscuits and the production of CIV's first album, not to forget the two records with his previous legendary band - Quicksand - needs no special introductions. And in "United By Fate" by Rival Schools, it seems all of W. Schreifels' musical influences have converged, an album undoubtedly in the name of rock. His Quicksand-like voice (melodic hardcore) is unmistakable, which in my opinion has inspired the entire emocore scene over the last 3-4 years. The melodic theme, already successfully applied by Quicksand, also prevails in Rival Schools, but overall the sound is softer and poppier (even Walter Schreifels gets older) thanks to the original combination between clean and acoustic guitars, which often wander into solo arpeggios and simple yet effective solos, and those distorted in excellent "Gibson Les Paul" style, perfectly set in an aggressive and dynamic context. Thus, "Travel By Telephone" and "Everything's has its point", the first two songs, excite on first listen and I believe not just melodic hardcore lovers, as the new pop influences unmistakably dictate the times and rhythms. Compared to Quicksand (I will never stop comparing them to them) even the changes within the songs have matured, no longer so fast and shooting, but decidedly more harmonious and enjoyable. However, some might not like them (see final criticism). Perhaps a bit out of concept is track no. 3, "High Acetate", whose chorus is a bit too obsessive and whose music recalls a poorly accomplished Nirvana track. But it's the exception to the rule, as the subsequent songs are full of energy and all on par with the single "Used For Glue", with which "United By Fate" was successfully launched at the end of 2001 and which is the brightest track (recalls a bit Paw or Foo Fighters), more tied to the hardcore past. And unfortunately, as an indomitable Quicksand fan that I am, I can't help but criticize the evident overly commercial aspiration of this work, as the production is certainly not comparable to the good (and indie) things W. Schreifels has done in the past: "Holding Sand", which at first sight could even be by Queens of the Stone Age, almost exemplarily mirrors this doubt. Overall, a great record, whose commercial policy might even capture the general public. Let's just hope we don't have to wait too long, as has always unfortunately happened in the past, for their next release.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Travel by Telephone (02:47)
Must have been a mistake
While you make things hard for me
Wouldn't hurt you at all if I didn't have to
Give in it's our first fight
Now that I see this side
I want to more than I did before
This night has opened my eyes
I know you, hope I do now
Communication�s down
I know you, hope I do now
We come closer
Temptations, they crumble by your side
You say you wouldn't hurt me at all
Can't be sure that you mean it
If it's worth holding on to, we can't stay in between it
I know you, hope I do now
Communication�s down
I know you, hope I do now
We come closer
A comfort to us all
Insured against a fall from normal life
Afraid to be at it alone
To shoulder I wonder is it safe for now
This could go either way
This could work out between us, or never again
Make it clean, how realistic we mean to
I know you
02 Everything Has Its Point (03:21)
The day will come through it will only take some time
Turning into a press on the matter look for the reasons behind it all
It will only take some time the day will come through
It might do you some good it might do you some good
Down lift off from the ground each second to save everything has its point today
What you say might come true I wouldn't complain unless you want me to
Point out where you live and notice who your friends are you are better off
This will only take some time to understand
Down lift off the ground each second to save everything has its point today
So many questions how you live the bests reasons I can give
Isn't never been here before everything has its point today
Lost it all again to start over turn around and then
You see things even you see everything
03 High Acetate (01:53)
Trouble abounds when you're left out of the makeup
Sunday dreams, a launch of schemes to overwhelm
I hope I'm the only one to weigh in on the colors I choose
High acetate, fly elevate
Unrealistic ideas float in like reindeers that pull the sleigh
I bet you never thought your movie would turn out this way
Can't take it, it's mine
Leave it behind, it's your chance to make
High acetate, fly elevate
Up onward, moving forward
Creation with no hesitation
Witness a launch of schemes so fine
Going to realize all your dreams of mine
04 Undercovers On (05:30)
Crept on you slowly
But faster than you could see
It's not like I noticed
I wouldn't be the first one you let in
The same person that you know would forget to be honest
I might be the furthest from your mind
Whatever you told me somehow you sold me on
I want to believe it �til I see later on
Apparition counterfeit
Will this racket go on another year
Overconfident, maybe
You're still here
Misplaced my fear
Whatever you told me, somehow you sold me on
I want to believe it �til I see later on
You cross the other way
And hope I didn't see you
I start calling out your name
Cause I want to meet you again
Don't know why you say you're doing fine
That's not what it looks like
Something doesn't feel right
You're undercover�s on
You're acting kind of warm
But soon you've got to leave
There's something you need
I'm not invited to go
Those people that you know
Well, they don't care about you
Could live easily without you
05 Good Things (03:43)
In line, I long to be, inside your company.
Good things are coming our way, I know they always have.
In time, go far away, a place where we can go I know we will some day, our own
Until then, I will lay inside, the Sun'll rise in time
Don't be so selfless.
I wait on the same lines as you
You can't be so helpless, I'll say what I'm going to do
Good things are coming our way.
Good things are coming our way.
In line, I long to be, inside your company(I wait 'till I have to do less)
Whenever you know we'll go wherever you wanted to.
Been wishing I was somewhere else now, drive along to escape.
Good things are coming.
Don't be so selfless.
I wait on the same lines as you
Can't be so helpless, I'll say what I'm going to do.
Good things are coming our way.
Good things are coming our way, I'll wait till I have to do less.
Drive along to our escape, drive along to our escape
Good things are coming, good things are coming, our way.
Good things are coming, good things are coming, our way.
Good things are coming, good things are coming, our way. Our way. Our way.
06 Used for Glue (03:18)
Days of the conflicts you've been in
Traces of conscience you don't want to hear
You hear it now
You listen, you hear a sound
You missed it
Taken by conscience or taken by guilt
You live in the problems you decided to build
You hear it now
You listen and hear a sound that can't be still
The blame was found
You got it - you got it
Rode when she was new
You used for glue
Yeah
Dazed for time you were into
Praise from the crowd that you wanted to fool
You call them now, they're waiting
To hear a sound that can't be still
The blame was found, you got it - you got it
Rode when she was new but wasn't told when she was through
Yeah...
Listen now, the sound that cant be still
The blame was found
You got it - you got it
Rode when she was new but wasn't told when she was through
(the blame was found)
Rode when she was new (the blame was found) but wasn't told when she was through
(the blame was found)
Rode when she was new (the blame was found) but wasn't told when she was through
Yeah
08 The Switch (03:04)
Another quarter mile, we can抰 stop running
Must be on time
Holding the lost files
A drop off抯 coming
Too soon for us
This is the switch
One day, one far from we抮e in now
We抣l look back and laugh
If we make the checkpoint
All our worries will be gone for some time
A stolen suitcase full of your secrets
Soon will unwind
This is the switch
Play innocent, were innocent
I抣l wash my hands one day
One far from we抮e in now
We抣l look back and laugh
We抣l move to a foreign town
In Argentina, if you抮e down
No one will recognize us
Spending with our new disguises on
If only the switch would come
09 Holding Sand (03:43)
Sew a late seed
And so inside
A cast out, unwanted son
A crawl to what you want
Sit down, you fault, you run away from anyone
And where you live, I feel most on
A corner of space that you don't run
And guard�s off, I pass you by
Makes no impression as you stand
Makes no impression holding sand
A waif across the sea, aloss
Because you can't think straight
It's your calling
Wasted mourning
You wish it was your hand sliding down her back
Call, this is the first thing that you can solve
As the weight comes off again
Always the last to remember a name
Makes no impression as you stand
Makes no impression holding sand
You had your captive fan, and then what?
She saw your face and it tied your hands
Made no impression on me
Only left out holding sand
And it runs through
Shows in your face and runs through your hands
10 My Echo (01:59)
Three voices on the phone
Between me, you and my echo
Decide to let me know
That you can't hear at all
Constant interference of my echo
Can you give me clearance, Clarence?
Some relief, I long to be back home
Given the options that I've had
To cover a meaningful, wise conversation
I only want too bad
It's not a pressure you feel under
A silent wonder
Constant interference of my echo
Can you give me clearance, Clarence?
Some relief, I long to be back home
I'm getting tired of holding your hand
Suddenly sick of proposals and questions
I hope you understand that you've been no help at all
End of call
11 Favorite Star (02:58)
How can you take away my favorite star
I don't think that will happen soon no not in this lifetime
We live like one for the other a part of the same
Oh great here comes another contender swept away
And I'll show them teach them to mess with us
Laws will be laid down unwound
We play some parts up others down to our ankles
We're not running from anyone we've only just begun like the song
And if you come around I'll give you my address let me in on your progress
As close as we are my favorite star
And I'll show them teach them to mess with us
Laws will be laid down it's not in my control
Trust your hands our future plans work out
How can you take away my favorite star
And I'll show them teach them to mess with us
Laws will be laid down it's not in my control
Trust your hands our future plans work out
12 So Down On (03:19)
You can blame this fall on some
invitation to your friend
when she promised that she'd come
you could wait until the end
Now you want it all too soon
just to calm what's on your mind
until she calls it off again
to the wayside
Yesterday is left behind
it's as close as you might get
until she calls you all the time
she calls so you can get
down
on
Not adjusted to begin
as you lay with your concerns
are we better off as friends ?
either way it burns
Now you want it all too soon
just to calm what's on your mind
until she calls it off again
to the wayside
Yesterday is left behind
it's as close as you might get
until she calls you all the time
she calls so you can get
down
on
so good so far
you said I'm lost instead
but that's all in your head
Yesterday is left behind
it's as close as you might get
until she calls you all the time
she calls so you can get
down
on
so good so far
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By Rivo
No clichés that made Fred Durst & Co. famous. A healthy power pop, sometimes even too melodic.
What depth of sounds and what beautiful guitars! They remind me a bit of the things done by Bob Mould in the post-Hüsker Dü era.
