Ignite Our Darkest Days

After six long years, Ignite has finally returned with Our Darkest Days, their Abacus debut and first release since parting ways with TVT. Since recruiting unparalleled frontman Zoli Teglas in late 1994, the band has released record after record of socially and politically conscious hardcore that champions some of the most diverse and occasionally unpopular causes around. The fact is that no one sounds like Ignite and it's highly unlikely that anyone ever will. It should be obvious by now that they're among my favorite hardcore bands of all time, but I still can't call this record perfect. A handful of indulgent moments and a general lack of progression might turn off some longtime fans and the band's unique style might not sway newcomers. All in all though, Our Darkest Days is an excellent hardcore record. The disc begins with a one-minute song that serves as an introduction to the record. It could've honestly been attached to the following track and I wouldn't have noticed, but it's good nevertheless. The first full track is "Bleeding," which tackles one of the most obvious issues of the last six years, the Bush administration's use of 9/11 to further their own political agenda. Do we already know this is happening Yes. Are many bands with the intelligence to string together a coherent sentence without dozens of expletives singing about it No. One of my favorite things about Ignite is their ability to sing about politics and social issues in a straightforward and thoughtful manner. Some might call it "preachy," but I'd rather hear a grown man be angry about something worthwhile than the fact that his friends aren't straight edge anymore. Continuing on, "Fear Is Our Tradition" highlights Teglas' vocal ability with one of the album's catchiest choruses and intricately layered vocal arrangements. Most hardcore singers couldn't carry a tune if their life depended on it. Zoli has one of the most developed voices of any punk or hardcore singer I've ever heard. I could picture the guy singing power metal without a problem. "Let It Burn" follows up with another great chorus and some of the album's best guitar work. Much like similarly minded punk pioneers Bad Religion, Ignite's musicianship is often overshadowed by their powerful vocals and lyrics. While they may not possess the range of the aforementioned titans, Ignite are talented songwriters and musicians. Some might argue that melodic hardcore isn't exactly rocket science, but very few groups make it seem as effortless as Ignite. The record continues on up until the final two tracks without a weak point. The disc's second half is faster than the first with a handful of songs clocking in at less than two minutes. The fast and furious "Are You Listening" has one of the record's best riffs, "Three Years" begins with an acapella vocal hook that instantly draws you in, and "Know Your History" has great lyrics and one of the only showy bits of drum playing on the record right near the end. The last two tracks on the record are honestly a little confusing. They've included their cover of "Sunday, Bloody Sunday" by U2, which was released in Europe in 2001 as a bonus track on A Place Called Home. It's not that there's anything wrong with this cover per se, but given the joke that Bono has become in the last five years, it's become infinitely harder to enjoy anything U2-related. The final track combines an acoustic track "Live For Better Days" with a hidden track in a foreign language. I'm not really sure what it's all about, but all three of these last songs strike me as a bit indulgent, especially considering one has already been released and that Zoli has already released an acoustic album. That being said, they're still good songs. My only other detraction from the record is that in six years, Ignite seems to have focused more on tightening up their existing sound rather than expanding it or experimenting with it. For many fans, that won't be a problem, as there isn't much that most would want to change, but I would've liked to hear them try just a bit harder. Everything else about this record is impeccable. The recording is flawless, the performances are spot on in every case and the songs themselves are solid throughout. Bottom Line: Ignite are one of the only remaining hardcore bands from the mid-90's that have never compromised their beliefs or their music. While it may have been quite a few years since their last release, the band hasn't missed a beat, releasing another fantastic album that's at least as good as their previous full-lengths. Fans of newer melodic hardcore like Comeback Kid or Set Your Goals should pick this record up, along with Ignite's entire back catalog. Fans of Ignite's previous work will want to snag a copy of this record as well, as it is another high point in the band's already impressive career.