Reviews

Hurray for No Harm Done! Escape, the third full-length from this melodic punk/hardcore group, is a breath of fresh air during the suffocating month of August. I received this record a while ago and it's been rotating heavily through my mp3 player as well as my car stereo. I just can't help it. These guys play a brand of energetic punk combined with nice bits of melody and hardcore, all of which help to form an infectious and heart-warming sound. Think of all of those great melodic punk bands that put a smile on your face as you blasted their records while driving to work, windows down, screaming along; New Found Glory, Lifetime, Lagwagon, etc. These guys fit right into that category with wonderfully simplistic music, honest lyrics, and a conviction behind the performances that is so rare in this day and age. While sterile, "marketable" bands also claiming the punk moniker continue to climb the charts and get the girls, it's reassuring to hear a band that is coming from an almost archaic approach to DIY punk rock.

Maybe I'm jumping the gun. Maybe the way the music presents itself is nothing like how these guys actually are. If that's the case, they've done a hell of a job convincing me otherwise. No Harm Done come off as a bunch of guys that write tunes in a shitty practice space, working for hours on the perfect chorus or rhythm, one that will imbed itself in your brain. From the opening chant of "This is my escape" from singer Matt Cantwell, I believe everything the man has to say. His approach to the lyrics is simple; talk about what you know. I don't believe for a second that Cantwell hasn't lived what he sings, there's just that much passion behind it all. While listening to the record, I imagine the band playing basement shows and tearing the place down with their good time vibe.

Escape is a great call to arms for punk rock. It helps remind us that the music itself is what's important, that marketability and advertising campaigns shouldn't be the focus of a band. Hell, there's not even a picture of these guys on their press release, which is also a testament to the approach taken by Think Fast! Records. More and more often I find myself digging this label and the releases it puts out. In fact, as of the writing of this review, all four records we've commented on for punkbands.com have received four stars; that's a hell of a streak and I'm certainly not gonna break it, not with another quality release such as this one. Check these guys out and check out Think Fast! Records; I have a feeling we're gonna be hearing more about No Harm Done and I certainly hope Think Fast! continues to back talented, passionate bands with something to contribute to the independent music community at large.