The Riot Before is a punk band from Richmond, VA that (like so many other bands these days) adds a little bit of Americana twang to what might otherwise be pretty straightforward. It works. Rather than blazing through the eleven songs on their latest album, Fists Buried In Pockets, the band often detours into twangier/folksier territory but always manage to sound energetic. Those little detours work well in terms of the album’s overall pacing and really make everything (every single song) seem amazingly cohesive. Even so, The Riot Before is at their best when their tempos are quick and their melodies gritty. The songs are catchy, but they earn every single fist pumping and sing along moment (of which there are many). Yeah, the band is often compared to the likes of Against Me!, and Fake Problems, but I hear a lot of similarities between The Riot Before and The Gaslight Anthem. Whatever you want to call this and whoever you want to compare them to, The Riot Before has, with Fists Buried In Pockets made a really solid record that points at great things to come. Let’s just hope these guys can overcome their van troubles and make it back out on the road sometime soon.
MP3 | The Riot Before – You Can’t Sexy Dance To Punk Rock Fists Buried In Pockets
MP3 | The Riot Before – We Are Wild Stallions Fists Buried In Pockets
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