Follow Through
Taking it Back (Smorgasbord Records)
By: Jeff Lockwood
Ha! You thought that it was dead. You were wrong. With songs like "You Booze You Lose" and "Drug Freedom", Follow Through prove that East Coast Straight Edge Hardcore is alive and well...kicking.This band is not far away from New York City...and I mean that in a geographic and musical sense. These five fellows hail from Connecticut. The hardcore here feels like a throwback to the sound coming from NYC in the 1980's. It is as if Follow Through are giving today's kids a taste of what yesterday's kids listened to. But SE hardcore is more than just music. It is a way of life and many people, young and old, know this.
I find hard to believe that this CD is marketed as a "Full Length CD." At 17:43, it is more like a 7" recorded for CD. But for over seventeen minutes, Follow Through belt out 10 songs of friendships gone bad and the pitfalls of using drugs. Youthful energy is evident by the speed, power and soul of this CD. Taking it Back has all of the typical hardcore traits. Blazing guitars and psychotic gut-churning drumming are the back drop for positive messages screamed by the lead singer. And of course, there is the chorus sung by some angry young men that really need to get their message out.
The CD is good, but could be a bit longer. I really have a problem with having to buy this CD and only getting less than eighteen minutes of music. Then again, I go it for free. If straight edge hardcore is your thing, check it out.
