Review Summary: Stake to claim relies solely on the relevance of the name.
5 of 6 thought this review was well writtenIf you were to ask what peoples favorite hardcore bands were of this generation, it's highly unlikely Comeback Kid would even beep on the radar. That's a damn shame because they have achieved the strenuous task of being the most consistent with their catalog. Our neighbors to the north won’t knock determination and feel it's better to be revered for your distinct sound than it is to devolve for the chance at notoriety. There's nothing wrong with the notion but some are content with capitalizing on their own brand with no intentions of ever abandoning it and that's where Comeback Kid is comfortably nesting.
Founding members Andrew Neufeld and Jeremy Hiebert intended this band to be nothing more than a side project to fill up hectic schedules when not consumed with Figure Four. It wasn't long after their formation that Victory Records came knocking on their door and as much as that brought them to the forefront, at this point, it's also something I think unjustly keeps them pinned down. When you wipe away the label trash talk, these guys, in all aspects, are one of the most unconventional hardcore bands out there.
That's where we find ourselves with the release of Comeback Kid's fifth over all release Symptoms + Cures. The symptoms reside in the departure of original vocalist Scott Wade after their equally acclaimed Wake The Dead that followed with former guitarist Andrew taking the reigns for their follow up. The illness spread rapidly as opinions of how they'd lost their touch ran amuck. CBK took note and spent the last three years working on a cure to heal those negative outlooks and that's where we find their most addictive album to date. Symptoms + Cures is digestible for those who have trouble getting into this type of genre while keeping patrons satisfied.
What has never failed to set this group apart from the drones are the melodic melodies that come full circumference by Neufeld's raw delivery. The subject material is darker than it's ever been and that's evident within the way they transmit the demonstration. The albums climatic upheavals make what could be a forgettable release actually memorable. Neufeld's harsh catchy emphasis he puts on words stick out and will be the songs you revisit. “The Concept Stays” is one of the most thrashiest tracks. When the music dies down and Neufeld yells, “Never easy to mend when all the pieces stand so far away” it's definitely a part that will stick in your head.
There’s not too much of an over all difference between this and the rest of their history other than the obvious improvement in their evolution. If Broadcasting made you feel unsure then this will certainly put you at ease. As naturally as Symptoms + Cures starts with a bang, it winds down, appeasing die hards, silencing critics, and recruiting new fans all in a single swoop. When it wraps up, Comeback Kid proves their stake to claim relies solely on the relevance of their name.
