Originally published in Verbicide issue #6

The first couple of Victory Style compilations were uniform the whole way through: hardcore, hardcore, and more hardcore. With the exception of a Baby Gopal track dropped in somewhere, you were getting hardcore. Now, half a decade later, Victory is releasing their fifth label sampler comp, and when you press play you just don’t know what you’re gonna get. That is because Victory, for better or for worse, has notably diversified their roster. So, with that in mind, it makes sense that this is a very varied Victory collection.

The CD starts off with a track by a new Victory signee, Atreyu, who could have easily fit in on the earlier Victory Styles comps. They are succeeded by Victory’s newest MTV emo-pop band, Taking Back Sunday, four Long Island boys who supply the comp’s second track. Eh…it’s an unreleased track that I don’t really dig all too much. Same thing goes for bands like Student Rick, Armor For Sleep, and a very disappointing track from Grade, who seem to be going the route of the wayward emo fakies.

However, this CD is packed with 23 tracks by 23 different bands, and mixed within are some pretty cool tunes. Track three is provided by Snapcase, and while it’s a bit old (about two years or so), it’s always good to see their name pop up. Voodoo Glow Skulls, who jumped ship from Epitaph this past winter, contribute a new song called “Cold Shoulder,” and give Victory not one, but two solid punk rock acts on their label — the other being River City Rebels, who offer up their first new track since founding father/former guitarist (and fellow Verbicide reviewer) Dan O’Day grabbed the mic as RCR’s third vocalist in as many years.

Rock n’ rollers Electric Frankenstein make their customary Victory Styles appearance and are, as always, a lot of fun. Bloodlet prove that they can still make you cringe, Blood For Blood prove that they can still make you laugh, Strife prove that they are still alive, and Snowdogs prove that Victory still knows how to add brand new bands to their roster that have real talent.

VS5 has some brutal tracks by Angela Delamorte, Dead To Fall, Darkest Hour, and Ringworm (Heather Weil says they are good — they must be). There are lots of previously unreleased tracks, which is a nice plus.  Oh yeah, and there’s a track by this band called “Thursday.”  Perhaps you’ve heard of them…

(Victory Records, 346 N Justine Street, Suite 504, Chicago, IL 60607)