Progress – “Reignite Your Heart”
Progress is not one of my favorite words.
It denotes stress to me.
“Have you made any progress in writing that review, Slimedog?”
“Well… Yes sir, Mr. Bang. I’ll have it on your desk by this afternoon.”
“A simple e-mail will suffice.”
From childhood:
“James has made great progress with his interaction with the other children but his tendency to soil himself repeatedly is of great concern.”
“The beginning to the Progress review is simply splendid,” Mr. Bang announces, looking up from his just lit pipe, “But your tendency to relieve yourself everywhere but the men’s room has caused many great concern.”
Which should cover nearly all one need to know about this band.
THE END
Ah, it is being brought to my attention that I’ve neither explained the band, the music or how it all relates to my childhood dilemma.
But all in good time, my good men and gracious ladies. Let the progress begin.
Progress comes from that land that produces extremely good hardcore bands but, originating from there, can mean being overlooked.
Andy and I have always been impressed with Connecticut bands- M-13, Damn Broads, Cry Havoc, Drug Shock, Blastmat- I think we would both agree that’s some great competition.
And though Progress doesn’t make it that often to the Boston area, when they have we’ve been mightily impressed.
What I best recall about them is how they’re one of the tightest bands we review, but they have power and passion, also. And great songs- why I see three new ones down there. (Points below, excitedly.)
A mosaic is “a picture produced by arranging small colored pieces of hard material,” and in this case, “Mosaic” is a song that uses such hard materials as lightening fast tommy gun rhythms, intense, barking vocals and bouncing, melodic guitar riffs to complete a near perfect picture. “The frame of reality is stained from the bigotry you paint/ It’s archaic/ Your lines are cracked and fading/ No longer restraining.” Bursting with energy and passion along with a guitar solo that’s melodic and nimble and actually adds to the song instead of distracting, this is one great tune. “We’ll take hammers to your walls and we’ll weep with joy as we watch them fall/ With pieces from the whole, we’ll build something beautiful.” It would appear they just did.
“Burial At Sea” comes blasting out with all cylinders burning as the checked flag is waved and the race to hit you hard and with full force has begun. And if that’s the prize they’re winning, with passionate vocals, shearing guitars and a beat that’s powerful and unrelenting. The chorus has a nice, melodic line while the vocals move toward hysteria. “I’m sick of speaking softly and I don’t believe you’re sorry/ Your words no longer mean a thing to me when your actions scream adversely.” Then a breakdown leads to a metal thrash guitar part before we’re swept back into the original hurricane of sound. “So go ahead and sink into the depths/ Let the waves wash away all that’s left.” But what we’re left with is this terrific song.
A melodic guitar lick, that wouldn’t be out of place on a Buzzcocks record, starts out “Phoenix” with energetic, precision-like drums. Soon the exhorting vocals takes their place along with the steady, powerful bass. “I know all too well of being trapped in this place/ I can see it written so plainly on your face/ You try to hide your eyes, but I’ve seen the same in mine.” A slower part, full of metal touches on the guitar compliment a chorus part that has a nice, aching, melancholy feel behind it. “It only takes the smallest spark to ignite your heart.” This song has more than enough to do that.
Progress is not one of my favorite words but they could be one of my favorite bands from my favorite state for bands to be from. And let’s forget the “could be” and let’s go with “they are.”
And this is a pretty great, sweet Ep that combines punk, metal and hardcore (Hey, it’s on their bandcamp tags!) and it’s in the grooves of this record as anyone with ears should be able to tell.
And though I won’t claim it to be a cure-all for childhood traumas- it’s a whole lot better hearing than reading a bunch of addled-brain scribbling’s from a mind that seems to have gone bad; like some food left too long in the refrigerator or a ship left adrift at sea.
But enough of this razzle-dazzle, this razzamatazz!
Check out Progress and see if you agree. And if you see them, ask them to visit us again, real soon.
(Slimedog)
