Waterdown � The Files You Have on Me 
Label: Victory Records
Rating: 
 

Waterdown offer a strange collaboration of styles on their latest release The Files You Have on Me. The band hails from Germany, and upon emerging from the underground scene in 2000, have managed to put out a full length LP every year since. 

Waterdown's fourth release kicks off offering a mix of British-styled hardcore punk, but several tracks later, we find ourselves emerged in melodic political pop punk. The band cites influences ranging from The Clash to Slayer, perhaps accounting for the several jagged transitions from aggression to calm. At times the boys are faintly reminiscent of Mtv's current pop punk scene, but more often than not they are able to successfully incorporate new elements into the genre.

Songs such as Bulletproof, Disgrace, Going Back and A Fortress demonstrate the harder side of the band. The guitar is sharp and menacing, the vocals typical of hardcore punk with typical melodic choruses providing the structure for the chaos and disorder reigning during verses. As it seems to be somewhat au feu these days, many of the songs contain quotes from movies and other media regarding a political agenda.

Songs like Transient and Decaffeinated follow more traditional pop punk structures, complete with high melodic vocal-style and obligatory guitar riffs. The track Nothing also kicks in with a nice garage, 1980's Brit-punk feel. These songs seem more geared towards radio airplay, and a means by which the band can be nicely slotted in with the rest of the �pop punk crew'. 

Waterdown however, have also managed to develop their own unique, definable sound. The tracks Xerox, Nails All Broken Short and At The Waterfront are characterized by soft, drifting, echoing lyrics. The clean, mellow guitar lines accompany the vocalist, giving off an aura of helplessness and despair, and an inescapable drowning feeling.  The tracks Dodging Bullets and Interrogation offer a nice mix of all the above styles.

But the band itself has limited credibility. The generic fabric, and worn out guitar-and-vocal style has had its day. The singer in parts is substandard, often missing notes, or sounding �off'. The vocalist also fails to encapsulate the aggressive �hardcore' style. The album, while having its good and bad points, will ultimately leave you unsatisfied. Perhaps another few years touring Europe will allow the band to develop on its several more amateurish dimensions.

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