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Reviews
Drowned
In Sound 5/5
The
Once Over Twice. Remember that name. Say it out loud. Meditate
on it. The Once Over Twice. Write it on a post-it note and stick
it on the fridge, on the bathroom mirror, over the TV. Do it NOW.
And don’t stop ‘til I tell you to. Because the next
time you find yourself browsing the racks in HMV you will pick
this up. You will listen to it every day. You won’t be able
to stop yourself, not because I’m subtly hypnotising you
with my words – though that would be pretty cool –
but because with their debut album they have easily made the most
exciting, the most viciously infectious album you'll buy this
year. Bar none.
Following on from their ‘Strikes And Gutters’ EP on
Org Records last year this is a steaming, hyperactive ball of
post-hardcore energy where every instrument is scrambling for
your attention, each barbed melody coming at every angle, burrowing
under and over each other in a desperate attempt to make itself
heard. In fact, as soon as the hollowed, grating guitar scrum
welcomes you into their world the album bursts into a feverishly
intense mix of furious guitar strummings, itchy rhythms and explosive
drumming, vocalist Darren only accentuating this urgency with
a style that jostles between the exasperations of David Yow and
the reserved ness of latter-day Ian Mackaye. Lyrically
he appears to illustrate the futility of everyday existence if
motivation and purpose is lost, voicing on ‘Whistlestop
On The Permafrost’, “Lose your subtext, lose your
motives. So what would you do in my situation? Put it all down
to fate and put your feet up? I prefer to take a riddle and decipher
on the terms I agree.” Indeed it seems this is a band at
odds with societal complacency; a band preferring to affect real
change rather than nestling amongst those being ushered through
the post-teen turnpike without any real sense of direction. Forget
Sunday morning T4; destroy Heat magazine and please, someone send
a crippling virus to My Space’s server. Because this is
what young people need to hear. Musically
TOOT share a common bond with the creative mindset of the modern
DC punk scene whilst integrating a frantic, wholly disparate take
of their own that is both proficient and accessible, yet pumps
with a raw, primal energy that evades the bland and instead makes
this such a captivating listen from start to finish. In fact,
it’s going to take a heck of a long time before I put this
CD back in its case. So, for those at the back, they are The Once
Over Twice. And you are going to love them.
Rock
Sound August 2004 - 8/10
The first thing to assault you here is the feeling it was recorded
after overdosing on passionate energy. It bursts and spits, yet
repeatedly restrains itself before spiralling out of control.
Not that it would sound bad that way, but you have to admire their
self-control! It has elements that bands describing themselves
as 'emo' would kill for. But these elements are supercharged with
spirit and power and wouldn't sound lost in many hardcore bands
either. An impressively intricate weaving of influences, resulting
in a guitar-driven exorcism to purge much pent-up frustration,
whilst urging you to rock your socks right off. Don't concern
yourself with who this sounds like, but rest assured that most
of the bands they cite as influential would appreciate this as
one fine album. (Paul Raggity)
Big Cheese - 4 out of 5 (July
2004)
Yet
another top release on In At The Deep End (They've put out records
by Beecher and Send More Paramedics amongst others). The Once
Over Twice hail from Plymouth and play the kind of raw, abrasive
punk rock that's seen bands like Million Dead win so many plaudits.
While tracks like 'Whistlestop On The Permafrost' and 'Don't Go
Outside' lean towards angular, staccato riffing, the band are
equally impressive when they play more straight-ahead gritty punk
rock in the vein of Hot Water Music (such as on 'A Clandestine
Quest For the Perfect Action Figures' and 'No Point Of Entry').
Aggressive, complex yet overwhelmingly accessible, there's no
reason why 'Special Moments To Detonate Themselves' shouldn't
see The Once Over Twice reach a wider audience. (Nick Mann)
Skratch
Magazine USA
British
quartet The Once Over Twice's debut disc contain spastic spurts
of post hardcore brilliance, as the 12-track endeavor often dazzles
the ears with muscular bass lines and luminous guitar riffs. Think
Lostprophets jamming with Fugazi with a dollop of At the Drive
In for a basic cross reference for this outfit who commandeered
the hardcore spirit and added a healthy sum of rock 'n' roll to
the equation to boot. SPECIAL MOMENTS TO DETONATE THEMSELVES is
chock full of punk rock aggression, metallic melodies, and an
unabashed free form vibe that few bands dare tread, and will appeal
to folks that like their punk rock angular and smart. -Mike SOS
Let's
Just Pretend
Why did I not buy this record before? Why did nobody make me aware
of how amazing it is. This album is so fresh but at the same time
reassuring famaliar. Some of the songs travel from moments of
melancholic introspection to breaks of such infectious energy
that not dancing is impossible with seemingly effortless ease.
I don't know who they've been listening to in order to sound like
this, Everything? Anything? This album is incredibly knowing but
innocent at the same time. If one of their songs got played on
prime time Radio One, people would lapi up. I don't know whether
this is the innocent or the knowing bit of them.
Metal
Hammer September 2004 - 7/10
An eclectic fusion emo, hardcore and metal.
Plymouth's TOOT are in the spirit of Fugazi - even though they
don't really resemble them musically - and evoke the breakneck
hardcore of the much neglected Crumbsuckers and the punchpop sensibilities
of Bad Religion. Unlike many UK new school hardcore bands TOOT
are no strangers to tunes; they can write great melodies without
sacrificing the urgency and the boy racer speed. Opener 'Adeniodal'
is a glorious fists in the air anthem that sets the tone and the
pace for the whole album: that is fast, fast and fucking faster
still. If emo went in one direction, TOOT have split away from
hardcore and moved in another that goes right back to the roots
of punk rock itself which in these days of fakers like The Vines
is no bad thing. (Tommy Udo)
Pure-Rock
10/10
If you're not familiar with the band, The Once Over Twice are
signed to In At The Deep End Records and are a 4-piece post-punk
band hailing from Plymouth, Devon. They are said to be similar
to the likes of Hot Water Music, Fugazi and Bluetip which is already
giving them certain credibility before my review has even started.
The
track that opens up this energy filled 12 track masterpiece is
titled "Adenoidal" and lasts just over 1 minute long
but is the perfect aggressive short but sweet opener to set you
up for the other 38 minutes of pleasurable listening, finishing
off just in time to lay you onto the next song which is one of
the albums highlights. 'Special
Moments To Detonate Themselves' is an album full of creative,
well thought out, exceptionally well written songs that for once
is a refreshing change in the genre. It's practically impossible
to accuse The Once Over Twice of sounding like anyone else or
band-wagon jumping in todays scene as they certainly have a unique
sound that could well easily get them noticed and make way for
much wider appreciation. After listening to this album on repeat
for the last couple of days I find it very hard to find any fault
whatsoever. Each song is backed up by well written lyrics, clever
guitar riffs, great melody's and the vocals fit perfectly. The
songs are generally perfectly structured and with all of the above,
make listening very enjoyable indeed. It's
fairly hard to choose album highlights because I really can listen
to this release from beginning to end without feeling any need
to skip a single track. "Whistlestop On The Permafrost"
and "Victory Lap" are the two exceptional tracks however
and the ones I recommend checking out if you're feeling the urge
to now give them a listen. I'm
pretty sure this is the first time I've given such a high rating
for an album but I really am blown away by this effort and am
asking myself why I never managed to check these guys out before
now. The Once Over Twice are certainly a band that get my full
thumbs up and I can only ask you nicely to go and check them out
right now!
You're
Not Alone Zine #9 (Holland)
Difficult to label this
band into post-hardcore, emo, rock, hardcore or punk... they put
all these styles into a blender and mix it till it explodes and
results in an orgy of guitar driven music, emotional outbursts
and very clear and melodic vocal lines. This band can't really
be compared with any other but if you dig Fugazi and At The Drive-In
you should listen to this album cause you'll love it for sure.
The artwork is quite unusual but it fits the complex and alternative
approach of writing heavy music. - Jeroen
Fracture #25
This is, quite simply a stunning record
that slices open the cadaver of punk rock and lets the guts spill
out everywhere. The Once Over Twice simply exude a polished grittiness
and the sort of power that takes you in a headlock and chokes
your scrawny neck. They take the likes of The Bluetip, early Fugazi,
classic Gray Matter and even right back to Mission Of Burma and
they deliver it in a revitalised and truly infectious remaking.
A song like 'Don't Go Outside' has the sort of dynamism and potency
that most bands would kill for, and what's more the Once Over
Twice have committed their sound to disc with the sort of frenzied
intenisty of a killer live performance. This doesn't need press
sheets, glossy coverage or paid-on support slots; music as genuine
and exhilarating as this speaks far louder than any cheap publicity.
Check this out at all costs. (RR)
Mass
Movement
Now if these guys were
whores they would be huge. High energetic post hardcore'ism with
alot of rock, busy riffs shouty but clear vocals that were required,
resort to catchy vocal lines. Alot of At The Drive In here, which
is a good thing 'cause a) ATDI were a good band, b) alot of bands
copy them and suck TOOT don't c) Special Moments is more Vaya
than Relationships...which is a good thing. d) ATDI are no more.
But TOOT is by no means a rip off. They are too convincing for
that. There's alot of drive in TOOT, there are interesting twists
and song progression. Check Them Out. (Fjalar)
Slug
& Lettuce (USA)
The Once Over Twice
blend a variety of musical styles to form a sound that is reminiscent
of Quicksand, Modest Mouse, Hot Water Music, and the Get Up Kids.
They're sound seriously has something for everyone. They are tight
as a drum and their lyrics are fuelled by a range of emotions
and sentiments as wide as that of their musical influences. Their
moods range from sombre and sarcastic to more upbeat and optimistic.
The Once Over Twice win the best of the batch from my pile of
records for review this issue. Solid. (TNT)
Organ
Magazine
Well the first thing that hits us is just how different these
fine new versions sound. Adenoidal (the lead track from the ORG
single that we put out in early 2003) has been completely re-worked
as it opens the much anticipated album. Indeed it’s quite
a shock to hear such a familiar friend sounding like this –
like giving up your old warm comfortable boots for not-quite-comfortable-yet
new ones…. Ah yes, we’ll soon have these new versions
broken in, the last pair of boots were good but things have moved
on and the soles were thin and we needed these….
The debut album from Plymouth’s rather special post-emo
experience called The Once Over Twice is here and all the shouting
off of big mouths we did back in 2003 has been more than backed
up. Indeed it is with a little bit of a smile and glow that we
report that TOOT have been and gone and done and made the debut
album they always threatened to – no, hang on, they haven’t.
Hang on a minute, TOOT have NOT made the debut album they always
threatened – they made a far far better one! They could
easily have just taking in all the rave reviews their demos and
that single got them and just piled out an album that did more
of the same and we would all have been more that satisfied…..
No no no, they challenged us, they challenged themselves, they
pushed way out past being just another rewarding emotional punk
rock band. I thought we knew them well and I’m genuinely
surprised by jagged little treats like The Adult Crash. Hey the
cure for the disappointment that was the last Red Animal War album
just landed, this is really right up there with the very best
post hardcore/post emo things that bands like Appleseed Cast have
been dropping. Fresh, passionate, positive, infectious, urgent,
complex, clever - yes yes yes. These are special moments that
detonate themselves and you and all around them. There goes that
shiver up the spine, the introspective bit in the middle of Don't
Go Outside caused it, could have been any moment really. There’s
a respectful nod to the D.C mindset of Fugazi, and the X flavoured
new wave of LA (and I've never got to tell the band that X indeed
liked the ORG EP when they were handed one out in the New Mexico
dessert – and yes, fact fiends TOOT are named after that
X song). Don’t be afraid of anything, don’t be afraid
of anyone………… oh look, I could go for
ages and ages about how good this is, go mailorder it off the
record label website, if you’re not impressed then I’ll
personally refund your money…. Ah yes, we’re smiling
on planet Organ – told you so again…… THE ONCE
OVER TWICE just dropped one of the very best albums of the year.
Rancid
News -
5/5
Burning like a rocket launcher, they sing like they're gonna die
tonight and their living every breathe they have whilst they can.
They will implore you to do the same, to shout, to scream, to
think, to be alive. Ripping their vocal chords out from the profoundity
of it all this band are on fire. They mix a furious blend of The
International Noise Conspiracy and Good Riddance, fast rock and
80s hardcore. It's consistently powerful, dance-worthy and intriguing.
Their powerful, sometimes spoken lyrics give them intensity and
strength. A particle favourite is 'The Arranged Marriage'. They
choose to express what they believe and feel and I really love
that.
Playdead
#11
Imagine if you will, Bluetip at their most vicious, Fugazi at
their poppiest, - add a little bit, no A LOT, of British charm,
and what do you have. The Once Over Twice, or TOOT for short.
I don't know how IATDE keep finding them, but it's pretty clear
that TOOT are one of the most original sounding UK bands out there.
OK, so it's clearly a bit of a take on the DC sound, but they
bring so much of their own energy and ideas to it, that by the
time you've hit track 3 'The Adult Crash', all of the associations
you've been pinning to them have all fallen out of your head.
Luckily then it's followed by track 4 and probably the best on
the album 'Don't Go Outside' a song that measures TOOT up perfectly.
Equally chaotic, fast, aggressive yet always perfectly in time
with it's intent, it's a perfect signifier not only what this
band do at their very best, but pure and simply how good they
are.So they have it all, insightful lyrics, killer basslines,
clever structures, perfectly honed aggression, great tunes and
most of all it's a great album. They're probably not the best
IATDE band there is, but they're certainly battling for the title
with everything they have, and if you're familiar with the label's
output so far you'll know that's just about as big a compliment
as I can bestow upon them.
Punktastic
- 4/5
Every week we get a whole range of albums dropping through the
letterbox at Punktastic towers. There are very few times when
you can actually guarantee the quality of any of them. However,
in my experience, you can always rely on certain labels. Of all
the UK labels at the moment, the most consistent has to be In
At The Deep End Records. It seems that whatever the style, this
label always manages to pick up great artists. This is their latest
release, ‘Special Moments To Detonate Themselves’
by The Once Over Twice.
The
Once Over Twice hail from Plymouth and, although going through
name and line up changes, have existed in some form since 1997.
The band have a wide spectrum of influences and play their passionate
and honest music within a broad post-hardcore framework.
When
album opener ‘Adenoidal’ flies past your eardrums
in around a minute, you know this is going to be a special album.
That one track contains more freshness and intensity than 99%
of other bands attempting this style of music. The trend continues
with the likes of ‘The Adult Crash’ and ‘No
Point Of Entry’. This is a band wrapping up power, passion,
melody and energy into a great package. With powerful, snarling
vocals, driving bass lines and big choruses, The Once Over Twice
had me hooked from start to finish. To be honest you can throw
all the superlatives you like at this album, but at the end of
the day, the simple fact is that it is full of great, well-written
songs. I doubt very much you’ll find songs of the quality
of ‘A Clandestine Quest For The Perfect Action Figure’
and ‘The Arranged Marriage’ bettered by many other
bands this year. If I personally hear anything stronger than the
superb ‘Victory Lap’ I’d be very surprised.
So, In At The Deep End have done it again. ‘Special Moments
To Detonate Themselves’ is a great album, which is quite
simply full of great songs. I’ll admit to have not having
heard much by The Once Over Twice before this, but I’ll
be keeping close tabs on them in the future. So, too, should you,
as this is one of the best UK releases so far this year.
Alternativenation
It’s
really nice to be proved wrong sometimes. The
Once Over Twice set themselves up for a fall with Special Moments
to Detonate Themselves. That title, combined with song names like
Whistlestop on the Permafrost and A Clandestine Search for the
Perfect Action Figure have me prepared for overwrought, pretentious
scenester-rock. Their unusual choice of a Gérard Lattier
painting for the album cover doesn’t help either. Just
goes to show that one should never judge a book by its cover,
nor a record by its song titles. There’s a bit of a false
start with opener Adenoidal, but these Plymouth boys soon break
free from that and hit out with some of the best post-rock, post-punk,
and simple life-affirming pop music that I’ve heard in recent
months. There’s
a strong reflection of the great and the good of post-punk in
The Once Over Twice’s music. I can hear flashes of Retisonic
and Bluetip’s pop nous, echoes of Burning Airlines and Jawbox’s
ability to structure dischord into melody, and that slightly off-kilter
energeticism which At the Drive-in were so well-known for. These
are all good things. On
top of the staccato guitars and not-quite-unhinged delivery, The
Once Over Twice deliver lyrics that engage, that tell stories
without being explicit or literal. From the primal screams of
Adenoidal and Don’t Go Outside, to the almost-spoken poetry
of Victory Lap and Arranged Marriage, there’s not a word
wasted, not a phrase out of place. I find myself listening and
re-listening to the same songs, to make sure I’m catching
all the words. I know I could just read the lyric sheet, but the
beauty here is in the delivery – the pauses being as important
as the syntax. What’s
even more impressive is that The Once Over Twice manage to keep
all that lyrical dexterity wedded to angular riffs with a distinct
pop sheen. These are songs to hum along to, with choruses you'll
find yourself singing in the shower. Where much post-punk is abrasive,
this album manages to be inviting, even welcoming. It’s
accessible, yet still has depth. Special
Moments to Detonate Themselves is one hell of a record, standing
shoulder to shoulder as an equal with respected classics from
the likes of Fugazi, Samiam and Bluetip (all of whom The Once
Over Twice have played support to). If there’s any justice
in the world, this will be the record to finally push the British
post-punk scene into the mainstream, and The Once Over Twice will
be headlining next time they tour.
Riot
77 (Ireland)
The Once Over Twice
are a Devon based band, heavily influenced by Dischord's music
of the late eighties. They've a knack of writing some good tunes
and remind me of Bluetip circa 'Dischord 101' (ie when they were
good). Big J Robbins style here (also when he was good) and managing
to keep the dynamics working to their advantage. Using picture
perfect pop tones to contrast the ear bending force of their caustic
Hardcore angle, they come up with a formula used by many bands
over the years, but this is one of the few who can actually hit
the nail on the head.
Kerrang
KKK 24/07/04
Something's stirring down Plymouth Hoe way - and we're not talking
the local bowling club on a sherry 'n' cocaine bender. TOOT look
beyond their coastal home to Washington DC, showing a love for
post-hardcore's chiming sharpness. Obviously reference points
are Fugazi and Jawbox, and while they don't always match stand
out gems like 'The Adult Crash', you get the feeling that their
true worth will out eventually.
Direct
Hit Zine
This
is actually pretty good. While they have tuneful poppy punk sensibilities,
the also have a hardcore assault here and there to throw you.
Lots of great hooks, pulsing beats and angst ridden vocals. A
cross between THE BEATLES, SAMIAM, FUGAZI and think of any 80’s
traditional hardcore band you can think off.
Die
Shellsuit Die - 4/5
In At The Deep End Records have a knack at finding some great
bands. The Once Over Twice are no exception. ‘Special Moments
To Detonate Themselves’ is a blast of punk rock anthems
with dashes of hardcore and even poppy elements thrown in for
good measure. ‘Adenoidal’ and ‘Whistlestop On
The Permafrost’ kick off proceedings well with their gritty
edge and melodic vocal lines. The Once Over Twice seem to have
the song writing process down nicely. They have got a very well
balanced CD with some passionately delivered songs using loads
of killer riffs. Just what I like. Musically, they kind of remind
me of a cross between Hot Water Music (especially in the vocal
department) with strong hints of Bluetip’s experimental
side. Nice time signatures are apparent throughout…this
is always a good thing in my opinion. I think the song of the
CD for me has to be ‘A Clandestine Quest For The Perfect
Action Figure’. It’s got a VERY good chorus. I had
that track on repeat a few times I have to say. Other favourites
include the rock out driving punk song ‘No Point Of Entry’,
the cool breakdown in ‘Lies Of Our Lives’ and the
very catchy, DC influenced rock of ‘Victory Lap’,
again with it’s brilliant chorus guitar work. ‘Flame
On’ completes the album nicely with style and power. Judging
by the string of illustrious bands these guys have played with
it is also apparent they know how to translate all this great
music into the live environment….something I look forward
to seeing some day. I tried hard to find anything wrong with this
CD but there isn’t really anything to pick at in my opinion.
It’s dynamic, delivered with passion and simply great stuff.
That’s all there is to it really!
With
Love, The Underground (Germany)
First of all one has to say that THE ONCE OVER TWICE succeeded
in creating a unique sounding album which is really an oddity
these days. The fourpiece from Southern England has already been
playing together for quite a while, actually since 1997 and by
combining complex but melodic DC - Hardcore with their raw British
energy the band really finds its own niche. The guitar leads alone
will keep you busy for hours and the album has so many different
layers of sound that it can be listened to over and over again.
Enough
Zine (Germany)
With a bandname like this, I first
categorized TOOT as another band in the endless line of lame ass
“emo” bands. But hell, if was totally wrong. Right
from the start this four piece from Plymouth kicks ass. Driving,
catchy and with a slight DC touch, this is one of the best albums
I heard of a yet unknown band recently. Great!
Vendetta
Zine
First impressions can be deceiving.
When I saw the cover for ‘Special Moments To Detonate Themselves’
with its mixture of grotesque oil-painting and renaissance woodcut
the first thing I thought of was ‘prog rock’. I mean
Marillion are in the charts now and I’m just about ready
to believe that In At The Deep End are getting ready to don silver
capes and write songs about The Hobbit. This is actually the first
time ever I’ve enjoyed being wrong. With neither a keyboard
nor a map of Middle Earth in sight, The Once Over Twice play a
unique brand of rock’n’roll flavoured hardcore supported
by infectiously catchy post-Fugazi song writing. It’s so
often a sad indicator of the times in which we live that contemporary
hardcore bands produce an album of umpteen similar sounding tracks
that merge into one congealed mass of chugga-chuggas. This isn’t
the case with these four boys from deepest darkest Devon.Every
single track is as blisteringly unconventional and distinctive
as its unfathomable title. With each listen you ‘discover’
a new favourite, from the gentle melodic chorus of ‘A Clandestine
Quest For The Perfect Action Figure’ and the lilting echoes
of ‘Spoken’ all the way through to the rousing juggernaut
of sound that is ‘ No Point of Entry’ and ‘Victory
Lap’.‘Don’t Go Outside’ is a haunting
and melancholic anthem with rhyming couplets that are somehow
powerful without being archaic “The sex was good the love
was bad/Best fucking stress I ever had/It never ends. It never
does/From me to you. From push to shove.” Casually delivered
by vocalist Darren Jones like an aural slap to the face.IATDE
has done it again, you could drop this label in the desert and
they’d emerge three weeks later having convinced four camels
to form a band and release a breathtaking debut EP for Christmas.
These are twelve tracks of fiery urgency that manage to be bitter
and reflective whilst at the same time as playful as a hyperactive
puppy. |
£5
€8
$10
£7