Review / 200 Words Or Less
Off Balance
Demo

Independent (2006) Michael

Off Balance – Demo cover artwork
Off Balance – Demo — Independent, 2006

Whoa! It's like I hit a time warp and traveled back to the early years of the NYHC scene. But I didn't. Off Balance hail from Indianapolis and they're out and about playing gigs right now. This demo is seven tracks of throwback hardcore that draws heavily from bands like Sheer Terror and Killing Time. I found it interesting that the vocalist, who goes by the name Justin the Cook (his nickname is even very 90's) claims a significant lyrical influence from traditional country music - the lyrics are rather poignant and desperate. Bottom-line, this is a demo and it's okay. The band definitely has some growing to do, but they show promise.

5.0 / 10Michael • July 8, 2007

Off Balance – Demo cover artwork
Off Balance – Demo — Independent, 2006

Recently-posted album reviews

Dream Fatigue

No Requiem
Daze (2026)

There’s a particular tension that makes alternative rock compelling. I love the emotional push and pull between softness and eruption. On No Requiem, Massachusetts outfit Dream Fatigue thrive in that space, crafting a seven song EP that balances dreamlike melody with bursts of distortion and emotional urgency. Born from the creative partnership between drummer Matt Wood and vocalist Jonali McFadden, … Read more

The Went Wrongs

This Isn't What I Ordered
Transcendental Revolution (2026)

I'm not sure what's happening to me in middle age. I used to find samples clever and a nice change-of-pace technique on albums. But lately I feel like they interrupt instead of compliment what I'm hearing. This Isn't What I Ordered starts off really strong with fast, melodic and personalized punk over the first few songs. Then the sound clips … Read more

Spillings

Spillings
The Garotte (2026)

Spillings is a minimalist reconfiguration undertaken by two artists whose careers have been about genre deconstruction. The paths of Mathieu Ball and Liam Andrews have been running on parallel tracks, but both have been aiming for a similar endpoint. That is to strip down the heavy, experimental rock form, while at the same time retaining its destabilizing core. With Big … Read more