A group of long-running Rochester, NY heavy hitters delivering Revolution Summer–inspired post-hardcore. Well crafted songs with no shortage of riffs, and it’s good! Dare I say… too good? The recording is very clean, slick, and professional. More often than not, that can act like a strike against a band for someone like me who prefers things a bit dingy, grimy, and lo-fi. It doesn’t take much for a talentless hardcore-punk band who recorded their demo in a trash can to impress me. If the passion and energy comes through, I’m hooked. It’s much more difficult when things feel more polished. Yet somehow, the slicker production doesn’t kill the energy on this cassette. Somehow, it still carries an urgency that makes a professional sounding hardcore band actually sound fun.

While post-hardcore isn’t a style that always revs me up, I am as much of an early DAG NASTY fan as the next self-respecting punker. When this style is done right it certainly scratches a specific itch. I caught COMING DOWN live once at The Bug Jar in Rochester, NY, and holy hell what a powerful, tight, and energetic set. That’s where a band like this really shines.

All in all, a very solid six-song cassette that is over before you know it, with enough power that I am forced to admit the cleanliness of it all absolutely works. And now, feeling uncharacteristically clean, I suppose I should take advantage of this rare opportunity and go floss my teeth. 

Label: Sore Ear Collective

Band: COMING DOWN