Reason

These days, it’s rare enough to find an emo or screamo band that doesn’t sound like a cheap derivative knock-off of something you’ve already heard. Some bands that have been at it for four or five years never find their own sound. It’s rare still that a band charges out of the gate with a fresh and inspired batch of songs that command attention. But Burlington’s the Reason has not only overcome the odds, they’ve done it decisively and convincingly. The debut full-length from this quintet bristles and surges with energy, conviction and an overwhelming sense of purpose. Together for just over a year when they recorded this ten-track disc, they sound like a band that’s had its shit together for a hell of a lot longer than that. Taking the basic fundamental elements of hardcore metallic punk, the super-catchy hookiness of pop punk and the stop-start/sing-shriek aesthetic of screamo, Ravenna grabs hold early on with the nut-grabbing thrash attack of "Reclaiming the Throne” and refuses to let go until the moody Tortoise some 35 minutes later. In between, we’re treated to a batch of solid tunes including the genre-bending album highlight, "The Joke and The Gentleman,” which starts out as an innocent pop song before bursting into a mosh-inducing frenzy. It’s like Further Seems Forever and Sick Of It All got together for a jam session and this is what resulted. Having already honed their live shops with a seemingly endless series of shows, by the time they taken this batch of songs out for a road test, they’ll well-positioned to take over the void in the scene left by fellow Burlingtonians Grade.