Request: A Bridge To Many - Weights (7'')

Not many French hardcore bands have ever really attracted my attention. And to be honest, A Bridge To Many's first demo didn't either. Bad production, annoying vocals and a not-so-good English, I quickly gave up on it. Well, their new EP 'Weights' is just an impressive progression from where they were before.

First, there's the cover. Having your artwork designed by Cristy C. Road, that's some way to start off things! The girl worked for Green Day, no less. It's the kind of cover that makes you wonder why compact discs exist. Then there's the sound. I promise to forget everything I thought about this band. The five guys from Toulouse have simply changed everything that was bad on their demo: the drummer (Bastien, who also plays guitar for much less interesting act Through My Eyes) took an electric charge, the vocals are much less put forward in the mix, the riffs reach a whole new level, from now on more massive than catchy. Even the terrible accent seems to have vanished. Their modern hardcore has embraced a totally new intensity, to become clean and powerful. The impeccable production has a lot to do with it. Nico's imposing bass throws classic but great stop-and-go's ('Intro/Weights'), guitar riffs are heavy as fuck ('Screen me out') and Wilo's vocals are rough enough to give dynamism and not too much so you can sing along. However, the lyrics are less explicitely committed and strive more for a classical and vague hardcore songwriting running on "I" and "life" ('Salvation is not coming' yet blatantly tackles religion, but it's a song already featured on the demo). But what I particularly enjoy and am happily surprised about is that, despite their obvious influences, it doesn't sound like they force too hard and nothing appears overdone. The gang vocals are subtle enough not to be cliche and the breakdowns aren't patently predictable but still pretty solid: the end of 'Screen me out' wooh, slap in the face! Impressive work from Nab and Kevin.

Naturally, A Bridge To Many aren't bringing anything new to the table, but damn, they're French and it's relieving to finally witness a young band from our country delivering a solid, relevant hardcore with such a flawless production. Very good job, guys.

4/5

Recommanded if you like:
Go It Alone, Champion, Miles Away
Check also:
Lasting Traces, Nine Eleven, Every Second Week

www.myspace.com/abridgetomany
(Distorted Charly Brown Records/Eternalis Records, 2009)