joenormal's Full Review: From Finish to Starting Line by Counterfit
Counterfit hails from America's Finest City and puts out a product that the city should definitely be proud of. This e.p. is filled with 5 emotionally charged songs that provide the perfect intro into what this quartet is all about.
The album kicks off with the title track "From Finish to Starting Line". This song shows the band's contrasting use of start / stop music as they utilize 'pauses' to generate emotion throughout the song. The music itself switches from hardcore melodic punk back to melodic emo in the vein of bands like The Promise Ring and San Diego's No Knife. The lyrics of this song speak of being stuck in a rut:
"Is this what we wanted?
We're right back where we started,
Is this what we wanted?
We're back right back where we were."
"New Year" once again utilizes the start / stop approach that Counterfit uses as its signature. The difference on this song is that it is more of a ballad with its slow buildups into slower tempos.
"Further On" is another slow ballad-type song with a much more driving melody as the bass, dual guitars and drumming of Counterfit unleash their fullest complement on this tune. The emocore sound of hardcore punk mixed with classic emo is once again evident as lead singer Justin John Rodriguez yells out, "Don't lick that stamp!" in what is probably the weirdest lyrical phrase on this album.
"Shatter Proof" is definitely the anthem of the album with its strong guitar riffing, melodic vocals, driving basslines and off-beat drumming. The band utilizes a lot of double harmonies on this tune with backup vocals heavily complementing the lead singer.
"Treating it as Such" is the closer on the album and, as such, is also the album's slowest song. To say this song drags on at a snails pace would be very accurate. Yet, it is this slow tempo that is this tune's most redeeming quality as the vocals and music are laid out in their most emotional state.
In concluding, Counterfit exists as a fascinating emocore quartet with their own unique approach to music which they capture in waves and waves of 'pauses'. If you enjoy music that's a little off beat and very emotional, than this album is for you.
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