Every year it seems some band from adolescence gets the bright idea that they should reform, go on tour, and release a new album.  And as much as I want each of these rekindled projects to work, it inevitably goes as expected. The spark that made each of these bands great (which is almost always their youth) has long since passed and they are left trying rehash something that is already passed. It isn’t easy recapturing that incorrigibility and ferocity, that seems to come from bands early in their career, frankly its usually why they break up and why people look back with such admiration (ie see – the Refused, At the Drive-in, Glassjaw, and countless others).

So here we are with potentially my favorite lyricists of all time in Wes Eisold, and one of the preeminent hardcore bands from the early 00’s in American Nightmare, coming out with a new S/T record. This isn’t the first time they have had a reunion, but they hadn’t recorded new music since 2003’s  – We’re Down Til We’re Underground. 

The first track off the record doesn’t sound like old AN. Wes sounds different, his voice is tired, nearly desperate to reacquaint himself with his former self. Struggling to find that balance between authenticity and determination to capture that essence that is unattainable. Does it work? So far, for this one song, I feel like they might have found that delicate balance of the old and new.  I am pulling for you guys.