No Less Than Everything
Pavement, 2016
8/10
Listen to No Less Than Everything
A Connecticut outfit featuring Jeanne Sagan, who was previously in All That Remains, Crossing Rubicon’s brand of rock sounds like it would have been made several decades ago, and their robust and precise delivery makes these 12 tracks a nostalgic and memorable listen experience.
“Tomorrow Never Comes” starts the album with buzzing guitars as barked backing vocals complement the crisp percussion and melodic yet gritty vocals from Scott Wawrzyniak, and “Unhinged” follows with some metallic crunch as some post-hardcore ideas enter the fluid instrumentation that’s both hard hitting and tuneful.
Further along, “Bittersweet Day” takes nods to ‘80s metal with soaring guitar solos amid anthemic choruses. while “Cut Deep” recruits some dense grooves alongside a thundering quality of firm rhythm. A late album highlight, “Violet Carson”, then leads with chanting before bursting into chugging guitars and some of the best singing on the album that benefits from soothing backing vocals.
Deeper still, “Do We Not Bleed” displays razor sharp guitar playing alongside the dynamic rhythm section of Sagan and Brandi Hoods, and “Return To Atlantis” finishes the listen as the band tip their hat to the early days of metal as well as ‘90s modern rock that certainly would have been comfortable on the FM dial in that decade.
Crossing Rubicon occupy a unique spot in the world of rock music, where they’d fit in well opening for bands like Three Doors Down just as they would Iron Maiden. Similarly, they’d be as comfortable on both Headbanger’s Ball or 120 Minutes, and this timeless album clearly illustrates a significant career forthcoming for the New England rockers.
Travels well with: Kryptograf- Kryptograf; Saxon- Thunderbolt