In the decades following their formation,
7 Seconds tirelessly carried the torch of California hardcore punk with unmatched ferocity and determination.
Take It Back, Take It On, Take It Over!, their 2005 melodic thrash-fest, proves the band is vital as ever. The set list -- consisting of three-chord songs chiseled into tight structures -- blasts by with brute force. With hardly a pause between tracks (which usually clock in under two minutes), the listener barely has time to exhale. In addition to the jackhammer drums of Troy Mowat, the lead vocals of
Kevin Seconds, and the bright, razor-like production of
Bill Stevenson (of
Descendents fame), what impresses about the album is its share of catchy melodic hooks. The chorus of "Still on It," for example, approximates bubblegum pop, with its bouncing harmonies and infectious repetitions. Sure, the combination of singalong themes and in-your-face aggression may sound familiar, but
7 Seconds are the elder statesmen of the punk-pop genre, and
Take It Back, Take It On, Take It Over! announces that they still have a thing or two to teach the younger generations. ~ Anthony Tognazzini