The guys at Axe to Grind Podcast nailed down Abuse of Power’s sound when premiering the album’s best track, “May 1st”. To paraphrase, AOP borrows heavily from late 80’s/early 90’s melodic hardcore in the vein of Turning Point and Four Walls Falling – straight edge bands with fast, trotting beats, who separated themselves from youth crew by injecting Revolution Summer style melodies. The band’s first EP, 2017’s When Then Becomes Now, was a truly formidable introduction. What on Earth… is a big step forward in a lot of ways.
Producer CJ Ridings knocked What on Earth out of the park. The drums are the obvious production highlight -- they’re mixed perfectly and sound super full. The guitar tones are pleasant. Ridings really nailed the Turning Point “melodic hardcore” sound, with an even cleaner modern sheen. I believe this album puts Abuse of Power in the conversation with tone monsters Fury and Ecostrike for ‘best guitar tone of the genre’ consideration.
What on Earth… also marks a shift in the band’s songwriting formula. Every one of the songs on the EP was built around a big, catchy riff. The new material relies more on dynamics than melody. There’s lots of open space. The parts stop and start seamlessly. The drumming builds and swells behind walls of guitar feedback, before unleashing in full gallop mode. These galloping bursts are where you can really hear AOP’s improvements in musicianship. The band has sped up, with the guitarists adding an extra 32nd note to their palm-muted assaults. The rhythm section is locked in and super tight. The trademark riffing isn’t totally gone. It’s just more complementary, adding to the melody instead of being the basis for entire songs. I guess it would be hard to translate their old songwriting approach to a 10-song full length and have every riff bang like the riffs on the EP.
AOP’s new approach seems, on the one hand, more mature and artistic. On the other hand, it’s lost some of the fun elements that made the EP so great. The dance parts are few and far between, and there certainly aren’t any blatant singalong moments in the vein of the EP’s title track. I believe the EP will – rightly or wrongly – be remembered as the classic material. Dancing and singalongs are what draw hardcore kids to hardcore. Does that make the EP better? Not necessarily. It’s up to the listener to decide if they prefer catchy bursts of unrefined youthful energy or a slicker, streamlined, artistic outpouring.
Regardless, What on Earth… is a great record. Anyone who appreciates speed, melody, or great production will find something to hang their hat on.
Written by Vince Guglielmi Nov. 13, 2019
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