Reviews

Since it’s been a few months since Lifetime returned with an album’s worth of new music you probably subscribe to one of two trains of thought. 1) Yes! New Lifetime music! So psyched! Never thought it would happen and now I can die happy... or 2) Who gives a shit? I never understood what all the hype was about anyway. Lifetime sucks.
 
While I could give a shit which stance you take, I’ll try and explain it simply once and for all in case you’re still wondering. About 10 years ago there were barely any hardcore bands with the balls to wear their hearts on their sleeves and write melodic, yet fast music. That’s where Lifetime came in. Just before everyone else started to do the same thing, Lifetime broke up and its members watched other groups try, at varying levels of success, to keep the flame lit. It’s really quite simple, but unless you were around at the time, you probably wouldn’t get it anyway.
 
Sure, there are some people who are relatively new to Lifetime’s music and still “get it.” Yay for them, but there won’t be any awards coming in the mail. Does that make me sound like an asshole who’s simply trying to relive my glory days while, in fact, I’m just becoming an out of date, old fuck? Most likely, and again, I could give a shit. Talk to me when you’re 30.
 
Anyway, there’s a comparison I’m trying to make here. When Lifetime came back, I’m willing to bet the band members didn’t care if they sold a thousand or a hundred thousand records. It’s not what was really important. It was more about getting together with friends and playing a bunch of shows while offering the people who came to those shows a little something new to keep things fresh.
 
So I guess the big question is... is this record a success or should Lifetime have remained in the hardcore history books, a side note of another time? Well let me put it to you like this: as far as I’m concerned, hardcore is going through a major resurgence. While no single band is responsible, the sum is always greater than the parts. When you add up positivity, melody and speed, you can’t go wrong. Lifetime helped pioneer the style so to bring them back and mix them in with a new crop of bands, you end up with a scene full of great, heartfelt and (most importantly) fun music. No cutting, no fashion, no bad hair.
 
If by now you’re asking yourself ‘hey, this is a record review, what the hell does the album actually sound like?’ Well, I did describe it. It’s fun as hell and if you couldn’t figure that out, you may want to find something else to listen to because you obviously don’t “get it.”