No Control - Epitaph 1989

9 / 10

Suffer again. Same speed. Same production. New songs. Gets a little weak near the end, but nine of the first ten songs are unbelievably powerful and infectious. And the slow "Sanity" shows that even without the speed, this band is talented enough to arrange three or four basic chords in a unique and moving manner - one as beautiful and pretty as a flower in May. I know a sugarload of people who consider this to be their classic, and will obstinately listen no further. I understand how hardcore songs as perfect as "Big Bang," "I Want To Conquer The World," and "You" would be enough to drive anybody away from the slower and/or less distinctive numbers on the recent records, but it's still an unfortunate decision that these stubborn folks have made, especially considering the fact that Against The Grain is, all-told, a better record.

"All-told?" The hell does "all-told" mean?

- Mark Prindle