Johnny Truant

It’s no big shock that Canuck screamo guys Alexisonfire were instrumental in getting this British band signed in North America. Considering Johnny Truant play heavy music that somehow just reeks of short hair and studded belts, it makes sense they’re buds with other heavy bands that aren’t metal but still scream a lot. But, like Alexisonfire, this is some good stuff, although way more generic than AOF. Johnny Truant at first may come off like standard metalcore, what with those obscenely boring Botch guitar squeals entering in on the first song (sigh), but hang in there. Through the rest of the album comes moments of experimental noodling that don’t sound pretentious and nor like a shitty Dillinger rip-off, perhaps best exemplified in first single "The Bloodening.” The screaming is monotonous, but the innovative guitar work makes up for it. There’s talent here, and while this album definitely feels like a band trying to find their feet, if they stick with the sound and figure out who they are, they might be one of the few bands worth watching in the metalcore and screamo genres.