Fucked Up: David Comes To Life

Fucked Up
David Comes To Life
Matador Records [2011]









Fire Note Says: David Comes To Life hits hard, fast and then hits you again as Fucked Up takes you on their version of a rock opera that is both post-hardcore and melodic pop all wrapped into one 78 minute ride!

Album Review:
I can admit that hardcore punk is probably not my number one genre but Canada's Fucked Up is not your typical punk band and their new long player, David Comes To Life, is not your typical hardcore punk album. In fact this record probably will be one of the more unique listens you have all year. The album itself is based on a loose concept that focuses on David, who is in a dead end job that he hates and in love with a girl named Veronica. Veronica has a tragic death by ways of a bombing and David is lost and then meets someone else and then tries to figure out how to feel again. Get it? The concept helps drive David Comes To Life but the musicianship shown here by the band is impeccable. The album is a rock opera done the Fucked Up way and it breaks so many traditional "punk" rules that they set themselves apart from their own upbringing. The album runs a whopping 78 minutes long and features 12 of its 18 tracks crossing the 4 minute mark. The record is extremely blistering with the yell growl vocals of Damian Abraham but showcases the bands instrument talents as each song is completely tight and allows each member to do their thing. David Comes To Life also relies on plenty of melodic rock n roll to carry these songs the distance and represents the key component on why Fucked Up stand atop a hill all by themselves. It may have taken years, but David Comes To Life perfects a cohesive hardcore pop sound that is both addictive and inspiring down to the last chord. Slowly, I believe a handful of bands have been drifting towards a post-hardcore ground that is not a very charted territory but I believe with David Comes To Life, Fucked Up have just drawn the map!

Key Tracks: "The Other Shoe", "Ship Of Fools", "Queen Of Hearts"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Black Flag
Pissed Jeans
The Damned

Fucked Up: The Chemistry Of Common Life [Fire Note Review 11/6/08]

Fucked Up Website
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Matador Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony