Originally published in Verbicide issue #6

This is a well-produced split CD of two unique Dallas-area Deep Elm label mates, Red Animal War and Slowride. The CD is six tracks in length, alternating between each band (who complement each other quite well).

Of the two, I enjoy Slowride the most. They play emo-punk the way it should be played: fast, driven, with a Green Day-ish catchiness to all the hooks, and vocals that aren’t whiny or pathetically contrived (hello, Dashboard Confessional, are you listening?). If you heard Slowride’s last full-length, this picks up right where the best tracks of that album left off.

Red Animal War’s half of this split isn’t bad either. In contrast to the rollicking nature of Slowride, Red Animal War is a bit more aggressive vocally, but they play at a slower, chugging pace, amazingly maintaining a mature and melodic tone. Lots of great guitar stylings, great basslines…overall, a worthwhile and powerful CD that proves emo doesn’t have to be meek.

(Deep Elm Records, PO Box 36939, Charlotte NC 28236)