Music Reviews
H2O

H2O

Nothing to Prove

Bridge Nine

For H2O’s first album in seven years, the band feels inclined to let listeners know that they’ve got Nothing to Prove.

The NYHC band kicks off this noteworthy release with a song that’s nostalgic for the early days of melodic hardcore’s existence, specifically 1995. It was the year when MP3s were just beginning to spring up on the internet, and just after Kurt Cobain’s death inadvertently put a period on grunge. It was a time of transition. Ska punk was massive, alternative bands were finding mainstream audiences, and Lisa Marie Presley was married to Michael Jackson. It was a weird, yet magical, time. It was also a time when hardcore had yet to be adopted by both the rap and metal worlds. It was a secure scene.

Nothing to Prove serves as an anthem to those scenesters who have grown up and found responsibilities. It’s for the straight edge middle-agers (“Still Here”), for those who have suffered loss both mortal (“Sunday”) and of the heart (“Unconditional”), and for those who miss the days when the music was about the art and not the image (“What Happened?”).

Guest stars abound on this disc. Roger Miret (Agnostic Front, Roger Miret & the Disasters), Matt Skiba (Alkaline Trio, Heavens), Lou Koller (Sick of it All), and Civ (Gorilla Biscuits, Civ) all join the Morse brothers and company on this release.

H2O: http://www.h2ogo.com


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