Artist: Stretch Arm Strong
Album: Free At Last
Label: We Put Out
Tracks: 12
Reviewed By: Chaz
I used to be a huge SAS fan. I saw them numerous times and I loved how it was one of those rare bands where the "Christian" hardcore scene would completely gel with the secular one. I loved their sound and their mix of melody and great hardcore. I was a fan until the first few notes of their last release "Engage" hit my ears. With a new album on the way, I was hoping that with a new label, maybe a new start with new energy and a look back into the past. Man, I don't think I've ever been so wrong about a band. SAS sounds like they have spent their time since Engage watching and drawing influences from everything trendy on MTV/MTV 2. This is probably the hardest listen I've experienced since I saw Tora Tora Torrance at Cornerstone 2001.

I remember when SAS used to be 80% hardcore and 20% pop. Now it's about 90% pop 10% hardcore...and that's being generous. I don't have a problem with poppy hardcore. I love bands like The Movie Life and Crime In Stereo but this is sounds just like a hybrid of what MTV is shoving in our ears and what was once great and never will be again. It's very similar to what has happened to Hopesfall. It sucks and it's discouraging and it's just bad. Well, not all bad. I think you may be doing a great job with broading your thirteen year old fan base. Maybe it's time to hang up the guitars and microphones.