Drowningman
Don’t Push Us When We’re Hot
By Chris Gramlich

You know a genre is really heating up (or is almost over) when every band you ever loved seems to be reforming. Yes, the almighty Coalesce have at least momentarily reformed to play Hellfest ’05, yes so are a lot of totally crap hardcore bands and yes, there really is a new Drowningman record following years of longing and heartbreak. After calling it quits in ’02 and missing the entire “screamo/emo” explosion they helped inspire with their utterly brilliant mix of metallic chaos and melodious sardonicism (although, granted, they really were too heavy, complex and talented to be labelled a part of), shit-disturber/pizza-fucker Simon Brody couldn’t “let it go,” getting the band back together in ’04 for another kick at the poor sucker at the front of the stage. Following up their Learn To Let It Go rarities collection, Don’t Push Us When We’re Hot is Drowningman’s first true full-length since 2000’s Rock and Roll Killing Machine and despite fears that the magic may be gone, DM still have it. Sure, at first Don’t Push Us seems a little less chaotic, almost more straightforward than DM’s latter releases, and it is, harkening back more towards Busy Signal At the Suicide Hotline, but with years of songwriting experience guiding it. DM’s trademarked mix of metallic mayhem, chaotic hardcore, melodious moments and Brody’s equally strong singing and screaming are still potent. And although they may never write another song as utterly hope-crushing but memorable as “My First Restraining Order,” they’re still coming close, with “White People Are Stupid” having an awesome Maiden-esque guitar break and “Luck, Love, Life Time Guarantees and Other Things Assholes Believe In” being a DM epic of Killing Machine quality. Now, about that Deadguy reunion… (Thorp!)
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