Rough Edge: Transistor Transistor CD Reviews

TRANSISTOR TRANSISTOR

"Ruined Lives" (Level Plane; 2008)

Reviewed by Mike SOS

New Hampshire quartet Transistor Transistor return with a stirring one-two punch of angular hardcore and menacing punk rock with "Ruined Lives."

Armed with jagged riffs, malicious yowls, and debilitating rhythms that give bands like The Bronx and Every Time I Die a run for their money, this unit's motive to emote their innermost sensitivities never gets in the way of slash-and-burn hardcore presentations such as "Pilar of Salt."

Taking the avant-garde route paved by such bands as Poison the Well on the twangy "The Ghost Hand," emulating a bastardized hybrid of Snapcase and Modern Life is War on cuts such as "Diet of Worms" and crustily scraping through an abrasive "Celluoid Rats," this squad's latest bundle of sonic explosions grab you by the throat and screams for vengeance.

Summoning up the finest elements of hardcore punk's elite while maintaining their own identity, Transistor Transistor's "Ruined Lives" and the chaotic yet cathartic atmosphere running throughout renders this disc a modern hardcore classic.

For more information, check out http://www.transistortransistor.com.

"Ruined Lives" (Level Plane; 2008)

Reviewed by Snidermann

Rock'n'roll in its rawest form is a thing of beauty and Transistor Transistor's "Ruined Lives" is evidence of such. The music is high energy metal that rocks hard and heavy. The presentation has a punk sound, mixed with heavy metal, catchy hooks and screaming aggressive vocals makes Transistor Transistor a band to be listened to.

This music is simple yet captivating; however, sometimes the vocals are hard to understand and some of the songs tend to drag on. Transistor Transistor and "Ruined Lives" are simply fantastic fantastic.

I do not usually include the song list in my reviews; however, in this case, it will cast a light on this very talented band:

1. Morning Sickness
2. The Price Of Gas
3. Brass Bones
4. Diet of Worms
5. Pillar of Salt
6. The Ghost Hand
7. Harvest
8. Letter of Resignation
9. Celluloid Rats
10. Irreversible
11. Teratogen

For more information, check out http://www.transistortransistor.com.

"Erase All Name and Likeness" (Level Plane; 2005)

Reviewed by Mike SOS

This New Hampshire based quartet, who recorded with underground guru Kurt Ballou for their 11-track debut sojourn, skillfully walk the line between schizo punk rock and nubile screamo hardcore.

"Erase All Name and Likeness" is a rollicking, chaotic affair churning with dissonance and aggression, as the introductory one-two punch of "Kill the Head" and "And the Body Will Die" emphatically suggests.

While melodic passages can be found on tracks like "Songsanstitle" and the epic closing cut "Sinking Ship Full of Optimists," most of the time, these songs are accented with bitter blasts of distortion or anguished screams.

Spending time in hardcore bands gives these noise merchants a strong sense of dynamics, yet Transistor Transistor's sonic swagger falls most in line with The Bronx or Bars in terms of unloading a no nonsense rock fury. Everything from Black Flag to Every Time I Die to Amen is emulated here, and in such a way that's it's impossible to ignore.

For more information, check out http://www.transistortransistor.com.

Rating Guide:

A classic. This record will kick your ass.

Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.

So-so. You've heard better.

Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.

Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.

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