Clean Plate/Pure Pain Sugar
After a slew of excellent split singles over the last year Daniel Striped Tiger returns with its third LP No Difference one that sees the Massachusetts-based band at its finest. DST is obviously well versed in D.C./Dischord past playing a style of post-hardcore with definite math elements. However DST is likely more in tune with the likes of contemporary European bands such as La Quiete and former split partners Sinaloa — here songs are crammed full of ideas and clean guitars that cause one to wonder why bands feel the need to hide behind distortion pedals.
Opener “Ancient Future” serves as a fine example of the album’s contents: Guitars strummed like it matters and vocals that sound more like desperate pleas. It’s impressive how a band can pack in so many ideas and still keep the narrative flow of a song intact. Never once does it feel as though DST’s guitarists are simply showing off — rather DST blares through its songs with fury. Even with the unrelenting drive of No Difference every few tracks listeners are given a moment to recoup with the slightly more subdued instrumentals interspersed throughout. Quite a feat: a hardcore record that leaves one breathless but not beaten. Highly recommended.
