Means - Sending You Strength review

I've recently come across an album by a band called Means. These guys are Canadian Christian metal-core on Facedown Records. You're probably thinking the same thing I was... 'Here we go, another generic metalcore preach band.'

Well I couldn't have been more wrong. First of all, if I didn't tell you they were Christian (or on facedown) you wouldn't know it by reading their lyrics.... they're positive, empowering and about subjects we can all relate to, lifes struggles, family, friends, unity.

Secondly... i'm finding it hard to call them metalcore. I've been hooked on they're first album release Sending You Stength, March 07. They have all the great things in a hardcore band (along the lines of Comeback Kid) crew vocals, great vocals both scream and singing done by the guitarist, a little bit of mosh and catchy, speedy tunes that you cant help but getting excited about.

Musically this recording is flawless, there is nothing I would change and I love that... and it's not just a couple of songs, it's the whole album. Sure they don't break any boundaries but the crisp drumming, flowing sections and well planned guitars just make this an unbelievable release. I haven't been able to turn it off for a week now, but I also haven't played anything else and for me that says something. Lee is probably going nuts though.

Any hardcore fan should pick up this release, you wont be disappointed.

Merry xmas from me & SCUM

Hey kids (I haven't set up a scum blog yet, so this will have to do... it's on the list of many things to do)
On behalf of the SCUM crew i'd like to wish all our friends, family, people who've supported us and bands that have played for & with us throughout the year a safe, happy & fun christmas and new year.

It's been a great year for us, we've had our highs and lows but most of all we've enjoyed the music we love with our friends. Everyone is probably wondering what's going on with SCUM lately.... well, everything and nothing.
We're having a break from shows over the last and next few months only because some of us are away living life. Chips, JD and a few of the other Citi Rock kids have just come back from a missionary trip to the Phillipines, so that took up most of December and i'll be in Canada for most of January snowboarding and finding balance in my life.

Our first shows back will be around March sometime. But untill then we have a lot to plan and sort out. Future goals for SCUM include setting up a permanent venue in Maroochydore, so it's something we're all striving and working hard towards. Eventually this permanent venue will be a youth centre, indoor skate park and a central place for everyone to hangout, relax, jam, record, make art, make friends.... the list goes on. Exciting times!

On the hardcore front: It's pretty obvious to say that grass roots hardcore is far from cool anymore. The second half of this year we've seen numbers at our shows and many others rapidly decline. As a promoter this is a hard pill to swallow because we want to see our scene grow and expand. Not to mainstream global dominance levels, but to a point where the scene will be able to support itself. When it's not been supported from the very bottom it makes things extremely hard to secure the bands that everyone wants to have come and play here, we just can't justify bringing out international/interstate bands if the support isn't there.

However, personally, i'm not worried at all by the lack of people and support. I can see that the kids who have stuck around and shown their support are the true kids who'll always be around. We don't have fakes, posers and outright losers at our shows anymore.... everyone is here for the right reasons and that puts a smile on my face. Although i've been around long enough to know that sooner or later it will be cool again a we'll have a new flood of kids trying to buy scene points. These things happen, so for now i'll enjoy what we have.

The promising thing is, I know SCUM has built a strong foundation over the last 2 years and it's something we can all be proud of and continue to build upon.

On that note, personally i'd like to thank the moshpit boys for their continued support of our shows and the scene in general, at times they're the only thing sticking this all together and they've done it all for you.
Chips, Zoe, Lee, JD, Jesse, Mum dad & everyone elses parents who've helped out in any way, Allan & Citi Rock and all the church people who I don't know, Jordan, Greg Bower, Curtis, Zanesha, Pride of place boys, Greg against, matty c, all the bands who's played with and for us and all the kids who continuously turn up to our shows (no matter how short a notice we give haha)

Thanks
scottyxxx

P.S. Anyone who wants to come and hang with us, just give us a yell. Over the next few months we'll be freebording (snowboard simulation) and skating most nights and generally just hanging out doing summer stuff.

drop me a line scottyxxx@gmail.com or 0414259614