Every Time I Die - Hot Damn!

Hot Damn! is right. I don’t think any other title would be more appropriate. Buffalo, New York’s Every Time I Die has once again put out one hell of an album. Following 2001’s masterpiece Last Night In Town would be nerve-racking for any band, yet they managed to pull it off. Even though I still can’t decide if Hot Damn! surpasses the debut, it certainly takes its place beside it. To pigeonhole Every Time I Die as hardcore would be absurd. To call them “technical noisecore”, which is how their press sheet describes them, wouldn’t mean a thing to me. If someone asked me what Every Time I Die sound like, I would respond that the band is mix of Norma Jean's consistent breakdowns and Dillinger Escape Plan's precise guitar work, with just a smidgen of Glassjaw-influenced vocals. I still don't feel that does the band's sound any justice. Breakdowns lurk around every corner on Hot Damn! and the music grooves enough to make your wheelchair-bound grandmother dance. The lyrics found on the album are in a class all their own. For instance, who else would say: “Thank you Lord, for the loaded gun, for the bad aim, for I’m lonesome. God is smiling down on us, he shines his grace on everyone.” Even the booklet is noteworthy, with the inclusion of some nice girl-on-girl action. Now since this is an album review, I suppose I should say something about the songs that made this wonderful album. Every Time I Die has a certain finesse to their chaos, and singer Keith Buckley has one of the more intelligible screaming voices among his contemporaries. Pinpointing a defining song here would be impossible, for each track is wonderful, and obviously that makes for an incredible album. However, not going into any depth would be somewhat lackadaisical of me. Kicking off with "Romeo A Go-Go" shows Hot Damn! can start many a bedroom listening frenzy. It also gives us the first of many memorable quotes: "Here's to cheap sex and codeine, in a hospital bed." "I Been Gone a Long Time" hints at a mild southern-rock influence, while "Ebolorama" shows off the aforementioned Palumbo-esk vocals. Brutal and fun, fury and beauty; that's Every Time I Die. Having already toured with Poison the Well, Converge, Thursday, and Dillinger Escape Plan after only one album hints at what kind of impact Every Time I Die has had on the ever-changing, ever-growing scene we call hardcore. I think I’ve pretty much said all I feel I needed to say about the album, so get off your computer and go buy it. [www.everytimeidie.com]