I think this is the type of hardcore that the kids with camo shorts and black running shoes are calling "amazingcore." There is a new crop of expressively distraught hardcore bands that place their hearts on their sleeve much like emotional hardcore bands did so unapologetically in the 90's. These "amazingcore" bands not only reap the benefits ripping their hearts out, they also learned that these 90's emo bands had a great sense of melody that underlined some meaty metallic outbursts. "Amazingcore" bands, as the kids have dubbed it, (Christ you kids couldn't have thought of a better moniker?) are usually consisted of twenty-somethings jumping around with their guitars and singing about busted hearts and empty nights. They like to say "fuck" a lot but it's usually out of frustration and not anger. The best thing about "amazingcore" (good Lord, I cringe every time I type that out) is that they play fast sometimes and know a good breakdown when they hear one.
Count the Hours fit the "amazingcore" label to a tee with their emotive outpouring nine-track album We Don't Care. We Don't Care is chock full of fast beats, chunky breakdowns, and of course songs about being fed up and lost in a new world outside of high school. Although they don't add anything new to the genre they are clearly great at doing it. At times I even find myself listening to We Don't Care pointing my finger and bobbing my head along to words and songs I barely even know.
Lyrically, Count the Hours seems to have a Wes Eisold complex as there is a couple of references to lonely hearts and feeling drake. Topics cover the bases of being lonely, growing up, memories and other emotional trials and tribulations of your average post-teenager out there. They are delivered with impassioned shouted vocals that you can almost image vocalist Anthony Hale sitting at desk pen grasped tightly in one hand to write letters never sent and his other hand is a clenched fist pounding away frustrations. The lyrics on We Don't Care are surely one of the highpoints as they come across as honest, unforgiving, and straight to the point without hiding behind poetry or mincing words.
Count the Hours surely have the chops and kahoonies to run with the big boys, but if I heard these guys on mix CD with Final Fight, Life Long Tragedy, Killing the Dream, Go It Alone, etc. I wouldn't be able to pick out Count the Hours songs without seeing a track listing. It's not that Count the Hours is horrible by any means, just not horribly original, which is fine. I don't ever expect hardcore to start breaking any boundaries in this day and age. It's all been done, but as long as it's done well I'm all for it. Count the Hours does it well. If you like any of the bands I mentioned above there shouldn't be any reason why you shouldn't own We Don't Care.
