RISING STRIKE:
Bite the Hand That Feeds: CD
I would guess that being in a hardcore/punk/ska band has got to be tough when it comes to getting your record reviewed, as you’re inevitably going to get compared to Leftover Crack, Voodoo Glow Skulls, or both. Rising Strike are a band that have more of a hardcore/metal influence than either of those bands (especially in the vocal department), but the comparisons cannot be denied. They don’t have a full horn section but, instead, just a saxophonist, and that prevents from making this full-fledged ska but, instead, simply a hardcore/punk record with ska influences. This band’s use of spooky imagery— along with sometimes overly complex song arrangements—might turn some people off, but I’m sure there are fans of the hardcore/punk/ska genre that would love adding this to their collection. –Mark Twistworthy (TNS, tnsrecords.com)