Liferuiner

If you don’t know how to define a breakdown or what one sounds like just let Toronto straightedge metallic hardcore unit Liferuiner explain it. Their debut album, No Saints, has so many it’s hard to tell where one begins and one ends. Each song is merely an excuse for numerous breakdowns and for the most part, the band can’t last a minute without having one. "I Don’t Need To Be Straightedge To Be Better Than You” is not just a condescending title but demonstrates their addiction: it commences with a breakdown, has one in the middle and ends in a similar fashion. Talk about a one-trick pony. For a breakdown to really work there needs to be a build-up of momentum or energy beforehand. As a band that have been labelled metal, there isn’t one guitar solo on this record, or anything influenced by its likeness. Liferuiner know how to write breakdowns that can easily start windmills, classic two-steps or battles with that invisible ninja. The intro to "If Being Fake Was An Olympic Sport” is a breakdown so overused the actual song succumbs to its pressure. One thing that breathes life into this album is the comical movie samples (there’s one from The Little Mermaid) and the production values are very good. Hopefully their next CD will be titled No Breakdowns.