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DrawCard: Modern Rivalry

Modern Melodic Hard Rock

3.25/5.0

Poison Tree Records/Nightmare Records
www.nightmaterecords.com
www.myspace.com/drawcard
By Craig Hartranft,  11.14.2010

A little bit of this, a little bit of that. Something borrowed, both old and new. These words describe Australian hard rockers DrawCard's first full length disc, Modern Rivalry. Post-punk, grunge, rock, but isn't most every modern band given this nebulous (and bitter) description. While there's a sincere attempt at novelty and even creative eclecticism, there's a creepy sense of familiarity within Modern Rivalry. Foo Fighters, System of a Down, Taking Back Sunday with a sometimes near metal edge in Radio and It's On. And it's often all quite punkish as Waking Up trends. Modern Rivalry is a dovetailing of modern music predictability with hardcore, screamo, emo, and bits of metalcore for a strange brew. DrawCard gives you moments of intrigue with clarity and challenge as Understated (A Night of Sobering) will prove. But, ultimately, it is the moments and not the whole that satisfy. One, maybe two, listens to Modern Rivalry explains its conceptual core. However, you must listener carefully to avoid pigeon-holing this band into the cut-out bins of current modern music. Later, moving this work from hard drive to iPod may prove to be a struggle. Nevertheless, kudos to DrawCard and Modern Rivalry for unswerving attempt to both challenge and meet modern melodic hard rock expectations. Modern Rivalry is definitely good for one enjoyable listen.

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

Kudos to DrawCard and Modern Rivalry for unswerving attempt to both challenge and meet modern melodic hard rock expectations. Modern Rivalry is definitely good for one enjoyable listen.

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The Powell Payne project, created in 2022 is the collaboration of Mark "Penfold Powell (ex-drummer of Psycho Kiss) and Adam Payne (former vocalist of Airrace). With guitarist Adam Davies and keyboard player ... [ Read More ]