This is Spark Lights The Friction's debut record for Trustkill Records. Incorporating various aspects of indie-style rock, hardcore, emo, and punk, SLTF is easily the most diverse band on the Trustkill roster. If you're looking for brutal hardcore and metal, this isn't your band. Fortunately, these guys certainly know how to lay down some in-your-face grooves, and what they lack in "heaviness", they replace with intensity. Passionate vocals and lots of driving, catchy melodies make this an easy album to digest. These songs will grow on you in just a day or two. With the exception of "Mai", a short instrumental piece using what sounds like an Alesis SR-16 drum machine, and "Orpheus", a quiet piece that zips right by, these tunes are all keepers, even the brief "Re'jouissance", which when I hear I picture Fugazi messing around in a rehearsal studio. The most impressive tracks on this effort are "Snake Charmer", with it's infectious "I level my scythe rigth at you" line, "Skin Deep" with its great chorus and the fabulous guitar section closing out the tune, and "Fuck Music", with its snarling dynamics and building tension. It's quite obvious that SLTF spent a great deal of time crafting these fine songs. Grant Johnson and Gym Heffernan have some of the best guitar chemistry out there, and with 3/4 of the band contributing distinctive vocals, there's plenty of variety to be found. The production is somewhat raw, but it works well for this band. Actually, most of the songs were recorded at reknowned Inner Ear Studios in Arlington, VA by none other than Don Zientara. Moreover, the layout and design are impressive as well. Honestly, there's really not much to put down about this album. Definitely worth your hard-earned money, and one of the best records of 2001.

Roommates, tourmates, soulmates. It’s hard to be objective listening to this CD. It would be harder if they sucked, but fortunately Spark Lights the Friction is one of the best bands I know of. I’m lucky to see them play all the time, tour with them, and have them as friends and inspiration. I’m proud that I saw all of this happen. Enough of the handjobbing. SLTF synthesize hardcore, punk, and rock and roll beautifully. The songs are all unique, and the sound as a whole is unique. That’s exceptional in the year 2001. They are anthems, commentary, dance songs, and everything else. It’s the type of music that makes you think critically about yourself in the world, and it’s the type of music that has something novel to say about this world, and it sounds good; it feels good. It’s soul music. The only thing that’s lacking is the gifted Kyle Belanger’s dazzling bass playing abilities. Hopefully he will return.

Possibly the only band on the Trustkill roster that (as of yet) could take a legitimate crack at mainstream appeal, Spark Lights the Friction release their first full-length after issuing last year's excellent, yet horribly titled, Cocaine Honeymoon EP on Hex Records. Shedding much, but not all, of the metal leanings that graced Cocaine Honeymoon, and refining both their songwriting and playing abilities into a more streamlined and seamless synthesis, Spark Lights the Friction are left with the distilled elements of emo, the always popular posts (punk, rock and hardcore) and even straight-up melodic pop rock. However, while SLTF continue with their trend of bizarre (horrible?) album titles, their potent distillation of melodic influences cut with hardcore and metallic aggression is unquestionably excellent. Album highlights 'Snake Charmer' and 'Inverse Achilles' possess an aggression and energy matched by their layered melodies and post-hardcore guitar noise, while 'Hail of Bullets' brings the abrasion in a vintage Helmet sense; 'Hearts and Cannons' is reminiscent of Snapcase battling Quicksand and 'Dream Apnea' recalls Smashing Pumpkin's 'Cherub Rock,' with its melodic, building intro. Owing large debts to both the post-punk DC scene, the prototypical post-hardcore unit Quicksand and the melody and emotion, if not the sappiness, of emo rock, Spark Lights the Friction have the ability and music to reign supreme in the realm of melodic aggression.

Trustkill continues to put forth solid music. The label is known for it's hardcore acts, but along the way there are other bands that come out that throw a curve ball to the devoted hardcore kids. The likes of "Idle Hands" and now enter "Spark Lights The Friction". These are the bands that are making it clear that Trustkill is more about good music, not just good hardcore. Spark Lights The Friction is not hardcore, nor punk, or even emo! They are more like a rock band that simply does what it feels. "Android Overman" is a tune that sounds a lot like Snapcase. But they use big words like "algorithm", "cultivate", "ineffable", "fallible", and "malleable". These are words this hardcore moron is not used to. Sure I understand the words, and the purpose of the track is to acknowledge that humanity is becoming far to mechanical, but it hurts man! It hurts my pea brain! The track proves that these guys are very intelligent both intellectually and musically. I was really into "Snake Charmer". Here the band speeds up to a punk like pace. What sets this track apart for me was the way Gym expresses himself. There is a great deal of emotion put forth, and the positive undertone lets the listener let go for a minute and not be caught up in the deep lyrical content. Best line is: "Realize with pain, there's much to gain". Well said! Twisting and trying to be a contortionist, the band starts "Skin Deep" sounding like Jane's Addiction. Then they get heavy and go back to a happy rocking sound. There is a fun bass part in the middle that leads to the band jamming, and some soft guitar licks that lead to Gym singing at a higher octave. Another worthy listen. Each track has it's own nuisances that make each effort unique from one another. I love the musical aspects of the record. But at times the vocals become obnoxious and a little overbearing with the use of large words. Again I understand them, but don't see the point. Words like "Bataille" just don't seem to fit. Music has always been something that takes me away from reality. The thought of having to break open a dictionary to understand certain portions of a tune don't appeal to me. But that is minor! The CD as a whole is masterfully crafted. Spark Lights The Friction has a unique sound, it may not be the typical Trustkill hardcore annihilation, but it is worthy of your time if you are looking for a change of pace.

It’s hard to describe this record as anything but post-hardcore. There are certainly elements of a number of styles represented here, though in the end this is post-hardcore. These guys hail from Syracuse, though a D.C./Dischord influence is quite evident. This reminds me of Kerosene 454 with their combination of herky jerky art rock, and melodic and hard hitting riffs. That said though, it’s still tough to really nail this record down, and the comparison to Kerosene 454 is there, though even it is a loose one. The production on this record was done at Inner Ear which makes the Dischord sound even more apparent, though the sound fits these Syracuse boys perfectly. Each song is an interesting contrast between off time rhythms, and intense drumming, and the melodic guitar parts. The vocals are sometimes abrasive, and sometimes very well sung, which only adds to the contrast this band seems to rely on. All in all the thirteen songs here work well together, and as a full record. It’s obvious there was a lot of time taken when crafting this. Really good stuff, that I have a feeling may be even better live.

They have worked on this album a very long time, with endless demo sessions and re-writing the songs. But it was worth the effort; an excellent mix of hardcore and rock is the result of their patience and hard work. It is never easy to get to a point where a musician is certain about his / her own music, but these four guys can be. Imagine some Snapcase like staccato riffs, combined with BoySetsFire melodies and some Silent Majority breaks, while adding a hint of in Jon Peters vocals. Odd combination? No way, this proves the bands search for a sound of their own. The groove this band has is amazing and the rhythm section can make even a broom dance. These guys from Syracuse prove hardcore is an art form and can even in 2001 add something new to the scene.

BAND OF THE MONTH Never hearing of this band before, I was suprised to hear an indie-emo-rock Trustkill band. Spark Lights The Friction is amazing; a hyped-up Stone Temple Pilots vocal style with fast, jumpy, metal-laced guitars. Not many bands in the scene today are doing this, and Spark Lights The Friction is making their statement with style. The cd is a thirteen song plethora of different degrees of emo, indie, rock and metal influences that turn up for short moments, then disappear. An odd kind of emotional hardcore, Spark Lights The Friction will definitely turn up again in the future. I wouldn't be suprised if more bands started, more or less, following in their footsteps. The cd is amazing; very few things could be much better than they already are. The album is ideal for any fan of hardcore, emo, rock, and will even appeal to some metal fans.

I've been looking forward for this release for quite sometime so when it arrived by surprise, I was more than giddy. SPARKS LIGHTS THE FRICTION play a heavy style of hardcore that it held together quite strongly by the best points of indierock and slighty off kilter terms of originality. In other words, their sound is definitely unique in the realm of the hardcore underworld. Not only are the vocals generally audible and understandable, between the two singers, some great interraction goes on. I really dig it when bands trade off vocals duties like they do guitars. SPARK LIGHTS THE FRICTION are more complicated than most acts, and their drummer seems to be a well oiled machine. There's strange timing changes and off beats abound, but best of all, the recording quality allows the drums to sound absolutely huge! My subwoofer was eating this up! Lyrically, I see a lot of FRODUS in these guys - kinda geeky, avant gardish intellectualism. Someone in this band is probably one smart cookie. If you're begging for a comparison, I would say a chunkier SILENT MAJORITY, but really, this is a sound that has been bred from the ground up. Guitars continually crash left and right, and the bottom heavy bass lines rumble like old buildings next to a train yard. Check out "Hall of Bullets," as this song will no doubt get your body moving! The entire "L'homme robotik" experience is all encompassing - even the artwork is complicated and engaging (and freaking awesome looking!). Definitely one of the more special releases to come out this year.

Okay, upon receipt of Spark Lights The Friction's self-released Cocaine Honeymoon, this Loud Rock editor was instantly reminded of pop-punk band Black Train Jack (Remember them? They were once on Roadrunner.) L'Homme Robotik finds the upstate New York-based SLTF taking quite a few steps away from that style and expanding on its post-hardcore, eem (short for emo) and Quicksand influence. Featuring former One King Down growler Jon Peters - who has traded his bark for clean singing in SLTF - L'Homme Robotik maximizes it effect by turning up the guitars and playing chunky, urgent riffs, ultimately pairing them with melodic breakdowns. L'Homme Robotik is decidedly indie without the snobbery. Get out your black specs, your thrift store sweater and dark rinse jeans for "Android Overman," "Inverse Achilles," "Snake Charmer," and "Sleep Apnea."