Single Reviews

Single review: Rival Schools – Wring It Out (Atlantic/Photo Finish)

By | Published on Thursday 24 March 2011

Rival Schools

‘Wring It Out’ is the second single to be taken from New York post-hardcore outfit Rival Schools’ new album ‘Pedals’, their first release in almost ten years.

It’s a strange thing, to disappear for a decade after the release of one incredibly influential album – it’s like, ‘bang, this is us, goodbye!’ – and the departure of Ian Love near destroyed all hope of album number two. But here they are, after a couple of years of festival spots and shows, with that promise of new music.

The question is: is it any good? I so want to say ‘yes, of course it is’, but the sound that leaves my mouth instead is a hesitant ‘…nyeh’. They disappeared for ten years, but I had no idea they were stuck in a time capsule for the duration.

The so-so, fairly forgettable ‘Wring It Out’, and the album that calls it home, are both equally nyeh-ish in their delivery. There are some nice riffs in there, but I can’t help but feel the whole thing is teen soap fodder. TW

Digital release: 6 Mar



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