Staple
Self-titled
Flicker Records
39:37 TRT

More emo/hardcore from Flicker Records with this debut from the Ohio-based Staple.

While nearly every song features emo screaming, the band shows it can play more than two chords. "Impressionable" features several tempo shifts while "Remember Sammy Jankis" actually speeds up. "Five Minutes Strong" takes a ballad turn, and the melodic "Red Brush Strokes" has a U-2 "War"-era guitar open. "Crusader" features a guitar-at-the-speed-of -light and then makes a 180-degree tempo change.

Emo isn't a style of music that I would listen to, however, no less an authority, my 16-year old daughter says "it's good."

As for the band's message, "Dictatorship vs. Democracy" is the band's first single (good luck trying to find it on Christian radio). According to vocalist Darin Keim, while there is evil in the world, believers should serve God because "we genuinely want to, because we know that He's the best option."

"Songwriter" is directed toward Christian artists as a reminder to continue to put Christ first in their hearts. "Here's to the way, here's to the truth, here's to the life that you once knew before the passion died in you."

"Pop" is about the lack of tolerance believers face from others while "Five Minutes Strong" follows a similar theme on quick judgments. No surprise that "Rise of the Robots" is about conformity.

I found the most intriguing song to be "Deathtrap Daisy." According to Keim it's about impurity of thoughts and mind, the attack of pornography on society. "That's a topic that the Christian community won't often directly address. It's something that's pretty much a struggle for almost everyone. I wrote that when I was in a state of feeling that myself." The song is also inspired by Proverbs 6:25-26. "Thinking of you, amazed by your disguise. You look so beautiful with death in your eyes."

If you're into hardcore, give this record a chance.

- Rob S.