CD review: The Uprising -

http://www.jointheuprising.us/
  
Steve “Crabby” Cabler - vocals
Brett Roelen - guitar
Gil Mora - bass*
Danny Thompson – drums
(Mora has been replaced with current bassist "Dash)

Armando Del Rio – drums (tracks 2, 4, 5, 6, 7)
Produced by Jim Monroe and Greg Hetson

CD Reviewed By Marc Ganancias

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     The 7-song EP, We Don’t Belong, released in 2006, is everything that hardcore punk should be – hard, fast, honest, and it has something to say. This band does it better than most, and the CD is the best recent punk release I have heard in a long time. The style of the band is unmistakably steeped in Orange County, CA tradition – their appreciation for the roots of hardcore punk is crystal clear. There are also elements of thrash metal influences on their sound, giving an even sharper edge to a band that bleeds intensity.

Just for clarification, the members of The Uprising are not new to the scene: the band was spawned from another talented SoCal band, El Centro, and the history of the members goes back more than 15 years. The Uprising's last trip to Florida was their tour with the Dwarves - they played at Backbooth in Orlando on October 23, 2008 (the show was phenomenal!).

The first song, “Intro”, opens with sirens, clips of our current president’s common drivel, and quasi-riot sounds just before Danny Thompson (also the drummer for Face To Face, from Victorville/Oxnard, CA) charges in with a fierce double-time beat. Gil Mora brings in the low-end driving groove, while Brett Roelen’s feedback builds up into the entire band coming together. The vocals for this song are anthemic and simple – “Join The Uprising…” Much like a punk rock call-to-arms, it’s hard to stay off your feet with an opening song like this, and it is a good indication of what’s to come...

Next is “Enemies” – it begins with a tight snare-driven riff, and commences to blow the doors off! There are overtones of the great Pennywise in the song, but The Uprising establishes their own sound with determined authority, and a perfect touch of melody to give a balance to their fury. Cabler’s vocals are gruff, but he sings in tune and is the type of vocalist/lyricist I appreciate the most – sincere, passionate, and like the entire band, he gives no quarter.

With “No More War”, the speed and intensity continues. There should be no question of the politics of this band – and they are political without apology. This song is pure fire, and if you haven’t caught your breath, at least it’s short enough (1:22) to avoid hypoxia.

“Get Away” brings the tempo down a bit, but that doesn’t mean it is slow or any less intense. It opens with a sheer wall of drums, guitar and bass, and Cabler’s vocals more subdued over muted-guitars on the verses. The chorus gives the songs an anthemic quality, with the “whoas…” adding a cool sing-along dimension.

Up next, “Find The Time” commences with a guitar riff reminiscent of Bob Mould/Husker Du/Sugar, as the drums and bass build into a captivating melodic groove, just before kicking into double-time. Cabler’s vocals, as usual, are spot-on, and this is another song to sing along with, fists pumping in the air. The bridge gives way to Roelen’s metal riffage…a tip of the hat to early Metallica, and solid vocal harmonies make this another song that easily stands on its own, and compliments the overall EP.

The song “Recognized” is one of my favorites on this CD, opening up with a Judas Priest-sounding guitar riff and heavy toms. “You better recognize…live for tomorrow? Just live for today!” There is a great bass groove from Gil Mora in the bridge, where the dynamics drop, while Cabler’s vocals have a heavy delay for a couple of measures, just before kicking back into the chorus. The lyrics address a common issue in Western society – everyone is so busy wasting too much time on the future, the here and now is often marginalized, and left to nostalgic regret.

The final song, “We Don’t Belong”, is a gem. It features Jim Lindbergh (Pennywise) trading vocals with Cabler, and the song carries on the tradition of the Orange County punk sound with undeniable pride and deadly proficiency. No frills – all substance.

The Uprising plays the hardcore punk I have come to love over the decades, and is one of those bands that will maintain the core values of what Punk truly means. Their obvious influences include BAD RELIGION, Pennywise, Circle Jerks, and Slayer.