Oh my god, the British do emo?! Just kidding. Comprised of ex-members of some well known UK hardcore bands, Rydell's members have collectively played over 800 hardcore shows, making them something of an English emo supergroup. And they feel things deeply and poignantly. This is as obvious from wistful song titles like "All My Neighbors Have Moved" and "Why Couldn't We Have Met In Summer" as it is from the trademark mournful hardcore scream of the lead-singer (whose name I don't know because, surprisingly, the band members' names aren't listed anywhere, not even on the label website!).
Sometimes it seems that if you’ve heard one emo band, you’ve heard them all. But putting my emo cynicism aside, Rydell is an interesting listen. They have a musical diversity in the same vein as Hot Water Music, with moments of intelligent yet melodic aggression which call to mind Leatherface, but without the Oi! overtones. "Ghost Cultur" is the strongest track on the album, making good use of layered vocals (something they also attempt -— but fail at -- on the final track, "Bitten to Bits") and shifts from sweet melodies to abrupt riffs and back again. There is a definite hooky, indie-rock feel to Rydell’s flavor of emo.
While some have compared Rydell to The Get Up Kids because of their poppier side, I really just don’t hear it; the music is more aggressive, the vocal style too traditionally hardcore. I like this album for the same reason I like other emo albums -- the energy and raw emotion -- but Rydell's sound has more depth and variety, making Per Ardua Ad Astra more compelling than most of the competition.
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