THE SMOKING HEARTS from London are releasing a CD titled “Victory” featuring 11 songs that have their roots in rock'n'roll, punk, and hardcore. It’s a unique style that the band has captured on this record.
The vocals lean towards hardcore and sometimes veer into screamo territory. There are also some typical hardcore parts in the songs. However, the pressure and aggression of hardcore are somewhat lacking.
Then rock'n'roll comes into play. The guitars, some mid-tempo parts, and the solid kick-ass attitude cannot deny their roots in rock'n'roll.
Finally, punk rock is also represented with some influences.
If you’re thinking of post-something-core, you’re not quite right. The band hasn’t set out to play something just because it’s trendy; rather, they do this for what their heart beats for. Thus, this record feels almost old-school in a way.
Nevertheless, or perhaps precisely because of this, THE SMOKING HEARTS will not have it easy. In the UK, where they are currently playing some concerts, they are certainly known, and I can imagine that they actually do well there. However, whether that will be the case on the mainland, I do not know. Quiet doubts are warranted.
Craftsmanship-wise, what the band does is absolutely good, but they seem to position themselves a bit too much in between styles for my taste. In the end, not enough sticks.
