Modern Life Is War caught my attention this past Summer of ’09, as I was perusing the clearance rack at my local Hot Topic. I was stunned, to say the least, to see a quality Hardcore Punk Band like this, on a clearance rack, of all places. It is a shame Modern Life Is War disbanded back in 2008… this was one loud, rowdy, Hardcore Punk Band that created some cool albums in less than a decade, (4 albums and 1 debut EP). From looking around the internet, Modern Life Is War certainly have a ton of fans hoping for a reunion of any kind. Going back to my clearance rack experience at Hot Topic… uncovered was a limited edition 7″ colored vinyl of the single Stagger Lee and the b side The Motorcycle Boy Reigns, included in a package with the Midnight In America CD with full liner notes booklet. The price… $4.98… man, that was one Hardcore Punk package too damn good to pass over. My wife actually found it first, she directed me in the right direction on this Hot Topic trip, she could not believe what we found… and for the price. If anyone who is remotely interested in listening to a quality American Hardcore Punk Band from this decade… Modern Life Is War is as fine and raucous a choice you can make.
Midnight In America is eleven songs that will either make you believe just how good this band was or have you wishing they were still around creating Hardcore Punk. Midnight In America is an impressive display of the emboldened confidence that Modern Life Is War bestowed, both in the lyrics and the Hardcore Punk Music they created. This album has it’s melodic moments, still, I’ll be damned if that takes away from the Hardcore Punk muscle that this band so viciously displays. My favorite song from this album is These Mad Dogs of Glory. The over powering Hardcore swagger just seems to boil over on this song… with pissed off enthusiasm for good measure. Night Shift At The Potato Factory and The Motorcycle Boy Reigns are songs that prove speed is a factor when it comes to real Hardcore Punk. Finding Modern Life Is War on a clearance rack proves that it is not always the crap music that gets marked down… there are many things in life that are deceiving, this is one example. If Modern Life Is War does decide on a comeback, they should know that they have this middle aged Metalhead out there, who feels they kicked some Hardcore butt during their reign.
Midnight In America was released in 2007 on Equal Vision Records.
Modern Life Is War, as they appear on Midnight In America:
Jeffrey Eaton on vocals, John Eich on guitar & vocals, Tyler Oleson on Drums
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