Distral
Strike EP
(Self-Release)
It may not be a popular opinion, but not enough modern hardcore bands take influence from Comeback Kid and early Rise Against. A decade ago, those bands reigned supreme, at least in my CD player (remember those?) in large part because they married charging hardcore riffs with the right doses of melody and passion. Finnish melodic hardcore group Distral feel delightfully old-school, in that they would fit right in on a 2006 tour with the abovementioned groups. Their brand of aggression is decidedly catchy, and, unlike so many modern hardcore groups, it’s mostly devoid of breakdowns. The name of the game here is riffs, melodies, and passion, and Distral does a great job of that throughout these seven songs of coming across as sincere amid the shouting.
Aside from the closing track, which starts up with a much-welcome dose of aggression, Strike never really feels all that heavy, which aside from meaning that these tracks occasionally feel same-y, does make the EP feel a bit refreshing. Even more refreshing is the band’s decision to rally against personal apathy and global frustration. The themes of the album are centered around the usual world frustrations, but the undercurrent of sticking together and pushing one another forward is certainly welcome in an era of nihilism and apathy.
Overall, this little EP is a fun, furious bout of old-school melodic hardcore punk. It doesn’t feel particularly innovative, but Distral seem disinterested in anything other than writing delightfully catchy tunes and spreading their message, and that makes the material that much more enjoyable.
