Originally published in Verbicide issue #14

You probably know this already, but just in case you’ve been living in a cave, don’t let the stupid name fool you; these guys are pretty great. Longtime members of the rich and vibrant Gainesville, Florida scene that spawned bands like Hot Water Music, SFD blasts out the quality hardcore that we’ve come to expect from what is obviously a remarkable music community. In fact, how many record labels have a stable of bands as good as No Idea? Against Me!, This Bike Is a Pipebomb, True North, New Mexican Disaster Squad, Planes Mistaken for Stars, Grabass Charlestons—it’s sick! Strikeforce formed in 1997, broke up in 1999, reformed in 2002, and now they’ve served up this gem of an emocore record. It is a perfect blend of slashing guitars, intriguing, plaintive vocals, and dark personal lyrics. There’s a maturity to songs like “All Things Cloven,” “Between the Two,” and “Featherweight” that places this band in a tier well-above the emo bands currently puking up their solipsism for the MTV masses. I’ll be honest—I don’t have a whole helluva lot of patience for that crap. But this CD has been in heavy-rotation for months. Highly recommended.

(No Idea Records, PO Box 14636, Gainesville, FL 32604)