Average emo

(Morning Star, Friday 27 July 2007)

ALBUM: Reuben - In Nothing We Trust
(Hideous Records)

RESEARCHING Reuben, distinctiveness is the central theme. "Distinctive, vigorous style" and "distinctive nasal vocals" pop up, but not one of the reviews or pundits refers to Reuben as "distinctly average," which is a bit of a misstep.

The Farnborough trio of emo underdogs have come far since 2001 saw their inception in this form, but their aggressive guitar and introspective lyrics even on this, their third record, show that they took their musical cue from early noughties emotional hardcore compadres such as Hundred Reasons.

On album opener Cities on Fire, the guys step away from the heavy guitar for a few bars, before the quiet rhythm and bass blasts into a big dirty riff and thrashing percussion.

The band's musical maturity is evident on Suffocation of Soul, a track which utilises harmonising and howling in pretty much equal measure.

But attacking Joy Division and Morrissey on Crushed Under the Weight of the Enormous Bullshit is probably the nadir, considering that these young upstarts have yet to earn their musical legend stripes.

Considering the tone of the record, one would have to surmise that Reuben are pissed off being unknown. But don't call them underdogs - their bite may well be worse than their bark.