Search - Sweetbelly Freakdown :: Sweetbelly Freakdown

Essentially a SWIZ reunion album

Oliver Sheppard | US | 08/05/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"By the time this LP came out in 1997, members of SWIZ had gone on to form the post-hardcore band BLUETIP. That is, except for SWIZ vocalist Shawn Brown, who also sang for DAG NASTY's original incarnation.



This LP represents the reuniting of BLUETIP with Shawn Brown. It sounds mostly like SWIZ, but, perhaps due to production by a member of JAWBOX, comes off being a tad bit more FUGAZI-influenced than anything SWIZ did. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though: the songs here may be a bit slower, and there may be a bit more of that screechy, dissonant, FUGAZI-esque guitar play at work, but they still rock overall. As with SWIZ, comparisons to ROLLINS BAND and Rollins-era BLACK FLAG are germane to SWEETBELLY FREAKDOWN's brand of noise. Brown's vocals are gruff and pissed off, hinting at a barely-suppressed rage that threatens to come out at any moment. The drumming is heavy. The lyrics express more of the personal rage and frustration that characterize SWIZ's songs.



Weak spots: three of the tracks feel undeveloped and rushed. One gets the impression at certain points that this should have been released as an EP instead of a full-blown album. The songs aren't as compelling as SWIZ's stuff, though they are still good.



Strong points: interesting, cool drum work. Shawn Brown's Rollins-esque vocals. Fist-pumping grooves. Most of the songs energize and get you in a fightin' mood.



Get the SWIZ "No Punches Pulled" complete discography before this. If you like that, then get this LP. Again, a couple of the tracks feel like filler, but if you are a DC hardcore completist, a fan of 90s hardcore, or east coast [post-]hardcore, then it's certainly for you. And if, after SWIZ's "No Punches Pulled" complete discography CD and this CD you still want more--then get Shawn Brown's follow up project, JESUSEATER, which contains more heavy rockin' material in this vein.

"