with
Snapcase 
By Tim Byrnes

I've always found the term �progressive rock' to be a misnomer, in that most perpetrators of the genre draw from classical music to somehow dignify the same old rama-lama-loo by dressing it up in technical wizardry and other weapons of mass distraction.  Real progress occurs in music, as in life, only when critical thought is brought to bear on a given situation, a course of action chosen and then implemented. In the case of Buffalo's Snapcase, much critical thought has been brought to bear on the concept of individual responsibility and personal mental and spiritual growth. Over the course of 4 CDs (1993's "lookinglasself', 97's "Progress Through Unlearning", 2000"s "Designs for Automotion" and 2002"s "End Transmission" Snapcase have crafted a sprawling, complex conceptual
piece that models a future society based on self-determination, personal responsibility and, once again, growth.

That the guitars of Frank Vicario and John Salemi rock hard and grind in harmonic explosions of distortion while the rhythm section of Dustin Perry on bass and Ben Lythberg on drums push and pull in synchronized blocks of concrete supporting the intelligent lyrics howled at a dark world by vocalist Daryl Tabersik takes nothing away from the magnitude of the work. Hardcore is only as limiting a form as the musician allows it to be and for Snapcase the sky is apparently the limit. "Bright Flashes" continues the freethinker concept manifested (manifestoed?) On the earlier CDs and adds some interesting covers to the mix.

Helmet, a band that has clearly influenced Snapcase's scorched earth sound, are represented by a cover of "Blacktop". Devo, forerunners in conceptual punk find their "Freedom of Choice" and "Depth of Field" reinterpreted as screams from the bottom of a hopeful heart. Snapcase even revisit themselves with techno tinged remakes of their own "Believe/Revolt" and "Ten AM", revealing a welcome willingness to reconsider their art and to stretch themselves. And, as all of us must do at one time or another, they pay tribute to Jane's Addiction with a rousing cover of "Mountain Song".

"Bright Flashes" shows a band that rocks as hard as any and smarter than most and, more importantly, is the work of a band that has shown real commitment to an ideal through thought, word and deed. Now, that's progressive.

Snapcase - Bright Flashes
Label: Victory Records
Rating: 

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