Still Here to Stay... (Sink Or Swim - Over My Dead Body)

Member Name: thebluehippo

Product:	Sink Or Swim - Over My Dead Body
Date:	24/03/07 (160 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great Hardcore Tunes

Disadvantages: Too short

Following on from their previous release Rusty Medals and Broken Badges, in 2003 Over my Dead Body released there second full album Sink or Swim.

OMDB are:
Daniel Saint - Vocals
Mike Arney - Guitar
Aaron Cooley - Guitar
Adam Meehan - Bass
Tommy Anthony - Drums

Over My Dead Body formed in 2000, from San Diego, California, their sound is an old school hardcore punk style that plays what they like and are arguable one of the best hardcore bands of the 21st century.
There lyrics cover straight edge, politics, the hardcore scene, oh and a bit of football as well. The album Sink or Swim has a mix of old school hardcore, punk and metal.

'Why are you here' (1.29) starts off the album, no big build up instrumental or anything straight into the lyrics "It makes me sick/ It's reduced to this/ where is the though and passion?/ You've got no heart/ just waiting for the mosh part/ a slave to fucking fashion." It goes into a breakdown to slow the pace down and the chance of a breather before kicking into more screaming.

'Anchors Aweigh' (1.52) an anthem for those who stay drug free (i.e. no alcohol, smoking and drugs - i.e. the straight edge lifestyle). You might not like a track like this as you might view it as preachy, it's not but some people get touchy. You might also find this whole 'straight edge' thing a bit strange and might get it confused for a cult. "This is for you who still believe and it's not for everyone but it is right for me, right for me."

'Broken Backs' (1.44) this song has so much to say in such little time ripping on punks in bands who seem to believe there own hype. "I for one am glad you're here/ To show what sets us apart/ We'll see you dead." Banging drums tearing guitar ring this song through.

'Bricks' (1.13) has a great unity-positive feel to it chanting, "I'm there for you" a punky sort of track. Has a great appeal for me for the sing along. Good friendship hardcore song.

'Patriotic Cattle Call' (1.16) is an angry attack on the government and those people who label traitors for simply questioning how things are happening (as in the US and its media). The frustration is displayed in the lyrics sharp and to the point "Is it right to deceive while others die and millions grieve?" Fast drumming that races through this quick song. It finishes with the simple message - "Question everything - to be free"

'Tunnel Vision' (2.50) longest song on the album probably because it's at a slower pace taking it's time to kick in. The song give you the impression it may be calmer than sets off ripping on the hardcore elitists "Your way or the highway/ one way is all you see." closes down at a slower pace.

Dead Alive (0.59) is a fast cutting track that heads straight to the point "I've fucking had it with sleepless nights/Breaking my neck to survive/I wanted so much more/out of this thing called life" great song feeling the frustration of being over worked and under paid.

'Don't call it a comeback' (0.47) has great guitar, good lyrics going on about phases and fads in the Straight Edge scene.

'The 23rd Letter' (2.32) is a track that doesn't get to the point unlike the other tracks, though you can pretty much assume it's going about the government with chants of "Won't be fooled again" ringing out.

'Remembrance Day' (1.19) opens with some taking to a heroin addict, this opens up are next song. The tempo is quick with a thudding drumbeat, before a breakdown chanting "Free yourself from this."

'The Kippax' (1.23) is best described as a hardcore football anthem that would be sung on the terraces if the world were into hardcore. An amazing sing along with Daniel Pledging his allegiance to Man City "Fuck the Reds up the Blues, heaven is a train away"

'Always and Forever' (1.55) gives love to the hardcore scene and the friends made from it. "Good times we've shared/ You're always in my heart/ For always being there." okay-ish track drags even though it isn't even two minutes.

'The Cold Front' (1.33) is another gang sing along "If we don't stand together/ If we don't draw that line all our efforts, lost forever distant thoughts from a faded time" a hard fast tune that's great to chant along to.

A lot of tracks, which are short (pretty typical of hardcore as the music is fast and so are the lyrics), no tracks reach three minutes and most tracks being in the one-minute group. This makes the whole album in total 20 minutes and 57, which is short, but it is available at a good price from the Amazon market traders.

Best Tracks:
The Kippax
Dead Alive
Anchors Aweigh
Patriotic Cattle Call
The Cold Front

The vocals are pretty pleasant vocals in hardcore, pleasant probably being the wrong word to use, but there a good sound from the shouting that isn't irritating and doesn't sound off. Looking it up in the dictionary I find out that this is called melody.
I also like the anger and aggression, bad language is used frequently and I feel this puts the bands frustrations in a lot of the songs across even more.
The guitar are easy to hear and enjoyable with no distortion. The drum work is quick yet not quite that loud and blends into the background easy enough.

The songs are good though cause OMDB aren't afraid of just getting to the point. No subliminal messages, no trying to be clever - Just great lyrics with great guitar and drum backing.

The only problem is that some of the tracks are a bit repetitive with a lot of tracks about hardcore, straight edge, unity, scenesters, coming up a at least twice.

The album art is pretty standard generic hardcore band album layout - lyrics, pictures of band in action at shows. It's all decked out in a greyish blue with pictures of a sinking ship on the front, a lifeboat behind the CD and a (rescue) plane on the back. The lyrics have explanations for the songs below them, which can be cool to know what the songs are about, though bad if you are quite content to have what the song means to you. (Personally I never really cared for it but it was a great help to write this review!). I liked it though on 'patriotic cattle call' where under the lyrics it says, "By simply asking a question you are labelled a traitor, instead of 'love it or leave it' how about we all stay and try and make it a better place for everyone...."

This is an enjoyable fast paced fun album packed with anthems of angst, aggression and staying true to who you are.

This is the last album OMDB released calling it a day on 27th November 2004.

http://www.indecisionrecords.com

Summary: Not really recommended for people who are not into hardcore or punk.