There are metal bands. There are punk bands. There are noise-rock bands. There are thrash bands. There are grindcore bands. There are metalcore bands. There are stoner bands. There are post-hardcore bands. There are screamo bands. There are even bands that can cobble together a couple of these styles into a decent hybrid. And then there’s Second Arrows. These New Jersey destroyers fuse all the styles above (and probably a few more I can’t think of right now) into a high-velocity, high-voltage, high-volume display of sonic brutality, intensity and mayhem the likes of which are seldom seen and heard. Yeah, their name is kinda crappy. And their album cover isn’t much better. But trust me when I assure you that their self-titled debut more than makes up for it with its cathartically explosive arsenal of electro-shock guitars, convulsive rhythms and blowtorch vocals. Actually, don’t take my word for it. Push play and experience their fearsome, awesome might for yourself. But be forewarned: This sucker will pierce your skill clean through if you aren’t ready for what will be hurtling toward you. If there’s a bigger, badder, more brutal album out there this week, I’m still looking for it. But I don’t expect to find it.
THE PRESS RELEASE: “In a time when the familiar, the comfortable, and the nostalgic rule the day, Second Arrows have a far more ambitious goal: to create something entirely new, more than just the sum of its parts. Heralding current members of Deadguy and former members of Ensign, Every Time I Die and Nora among others, Second Arrows push beyond the hallmarks of their collective résumés in heavy music, weaving experimental elements of indie and stoner rock in order to create something at once energetic and raw, yet focused in its execution. Across eight pieces, Second Arrows’ self-titled debut, produced and recorded by Kevin Antreassian (Dillinger Escape Plan) pushes sonic boundaries to create layers of sound and feeling that exist at the opposite ends of every spectrum: lush and abrasive, whispered and guttural, linear and meandering. Representing both a complete story all its own and the opening chapter in a journey still unfolding, Second Arrows’ debut encapsulates an enthralling first step for a band that refuses to create on anything but their own terms.”
