Remember those spelling/definition tests that you had to take in grade school? You know, the ones where they ask you to give the definition of a word or use it in a sentence. I always loved those, maybe because I thought they were so easy. Okay, term one: "irony." - "Michael, an individual who is not straightedge, enjoys countless bands that not only feature straightedge members, but also advocate the ideals that make up straightedge."
The Struggle is the debut full-length of Cast Aside, a Richmond, Virginia straightedge hardcore band on Deathwish Inc. The band had previously released an EP on Malfunction Records that showed a lot of promise. And based on the opening track, "Stand Up," the band is prepared to smash all expectations. Led by vocalist Wes Vincil, Cast Aside produce aggressive hardcore that is up to par with today's top hardcore acts Terror and Hatebreed. The guitar duo of Shane Legano and Fahs Wood pump out a perfect mix of speeding Pantera-inspired guitar riffs and breakdowns that will send even the girls onto the floor to dance. And teamed up with the great guitar-work is the drumming of Chris Fergueson. While hardcore music isn't the most technical genre to play, it is always nice to have a proficient individual behind the kit, and Fergueson is just that; he gets the job done. A lot of these songs contain great breakdowns, but in particular "Dead Beat" is an excellent representation and any fan of hardcore along the lines of Ringworm will eat this band up. And this wouldn't be a hardcore band if there wasn't a chance to sing along. "Honor" and "Your Mistake" feature some great sing-alongs, especially for those who claim "the edge."
I was only disappointed a few times with this album. Overall the mix is of excellent quality. Unfortunately Adam Barker's bass-playing is buried so deep in the mix that I'm convinced it doesn't exist. The only other spot where Cast Aside does lose some ground is in their somewhat one-sided lyrics. Nearly all of the songs deal with straightedge, and only straightedge. But then again the band is out in the open about their oath, so I can't really complain that much.
The Struggle is definitely going to turn the heads of a lot of people in 2004. Look for a lot of the kids that were sporting Terror shirts the last two years to trade them in for some Cast Aside gear.
