If bands were judged
by the acronyms their names spelled out, the Sorely Trying Days
would be up there with the best of 'em. As it is, this melodic,
almost poppy hardcore band sits somewhere in the middle of the pack.
These folks have all the component parts down -- the youthful,
scraggy vocals, the turbulent percussion, the raucous guitar
histrionics. It's an admirable blast, really. But where memorable
anthems like "Everybody's Bitch" and "Survival mode" succeed in
invigorating the listener, they also seldom transcend the genre's
rules of conduct. And beyond that, these ten songs are designed for migraines -- they never let up on the gas, sticking to a
similar formula throughout the procession. One redeeming facet is
the presence of a several energizing instrumental stretches (most of
"In Control," "Destroyed in Seconds," "Red Turned Green"), which
offer a nice reprieve from all the yelling, instead serving as solid
rock blasts in their own right. They also help illuminate the band's
considerable technical skill. I also dig the nods to early 90s indie
rock ("Failing Engines"), a sound that's severely underplayed these
days. An just above average blast of melodic hardcore chaos, Survival
Mode sports some neat moments but is ultimately unable to
transcend its genre's niche.
