Promises Kept - Champion

...The album opens up with Promises Kept which sets the tone well for what to expect. Slowly building up before the singer comes in shouting 'Break' the rhythm becomes faster and the drums kick in. Finally the lyrics come into play which I can only describing as making feel that you're actually at a hardcore show. On first listening it gets you really pumped up. This track is important though because I feel it sets the tone about what Champion is about ...
...have that Minor Threat album but don't know what to go for next.

Unfortunately Promises Kept is Champions last album. As they have now called it a day. However they certainly left on a high.

http://www.myspace.com/champion


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Champion a hardcore band for Seattle, Washington, USA. Influenced by hardcore bands such as Chain of Strength, Minor Threat, Youth of Today and Gorilla Biscuits. They produced loud, aggressive angry songs covering subjects such as life, betrayal and straight edge.

The band are:
Chris Williams - guitar
Jim Hesketh - Vocals
Todd Preboski - Drums
Aram Arsianian - Guitar
Ben Colton - Bass

The album opens up with Promises Kept which sets the tone well for what to expect. Slowly building up before the singer comes in shouting 'Break' the rhythm becomes faster and the drums kick in. Finally the lyrics come into play which I can only describing as making feel that you're actually at a hardcore show. On first listening it gets you really pumped up. This track is important though because I feel it sets the tone about what Champion is about being united by Straight Edge and the promises kept being that there still Edge. A fantastic sing along

The track follows on instantly with Looking Back, a track that shows there's no signs that there will be any slowing down. With strong lyrics this a track basically about betrayal that all straight edge bands probably do at some point or another.

And on that point Next Year starts with 'When did everything fall apart?' this is good track but it feels such a downer when there have been two such strong tracks to open with.

Decisions Made follows which is a short fast paced 45 second track that speeds through the lyrics, 'Life can pass you by' a pretty powerful statement which is reinforced specially because the whole band shouts it out.

Miles to Go I feel is a track that stands out as it starts with a brief guitar riff followed by pounding drums. With the words 'Take the chance' repeated through the song by the band. I think this is what I like a lot about Champion because they manage to give you an idea what a song is about through one sentence.

The Truth works at a different pace kicking in with the vocals straight away. The drums are on over drive throughout this track, till the end as they begin to beat slowly, as it starts fading out.

Incidentally continuing on from The Truth they start powering back up again making it feel like the same song once the guitars kick in though we know it's not, this to takes us to Perspective, the guitars tear away making another catchy sing along track. Another track about focus and staying strong.

We then go to Failure, another track where the lyrics are raced through, it's short and has a simple powerful message. A lot of people, even those who aren't generally into hardcore could probably related to this track with lyrics like 'I'm sorry for being such a disappointment' 'I know you can't stand that f***ing sound'. The track end abruptly and this takes us to...

The Decline is probably the strongest track on the album, going straight in with authority; the song is powered through till a breakdown towards the end as the lyrics are shouted out. Again the statements in the song stand out finishing off with 'And in return you got nothing' where it ends abruptly

The Break rings in with the powerful shouting throughout the song reinforcing ends of sentences. With them pounding drums that I love so much that I've mentioned them on practically every single track, they sound they simple yet they sound so good.

Different Directions is a track that goes from fast to very fast before slowing the pace down slightly with the bass, before powering forward again. Beautiful

In a ideal world every album would have a similar formula to Every Word not necessarily being hardcore but having a lively track with an energetic format that will leave you remembering the album on a high that makes me love this album. 'Every word is meant to last until the end' rings out closing the album off as it fades out. This is definitely one of my favourite tracks.

Overall the drum work is fantastic, the guitars insanely powerful and memorable and the lyrics are intense and really uplifting.

I found this album perfect to work out to, something I take to listen at my gym on a regular basis. (I've noticed a seem to perform better too). Unfortunately it's too short but a bargain of an album if you look in the right places.

Some people may find this a bit one-dimensional, as a lot of it is about being in the straight edge scene.

In a day and age where its rare I can buy albums that I might listen to for more than two months, I've owned this for almost four months now and it's still going strong.

The album is an a excellent introduction to anyone new to hardcore, who like myself have that Minor Threat album but don't know what to go for next.

Unfortunately Promises Kept is Champions last album. As they have now called it a day. However they certainly left on a high.

http://www.myspace.com/champion

 

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