X-Members

Down With The Average Joe (Priority)
by Jon Sarre

This is so-so So Cal skate thrash which attempts to pull off a genuine early ’80s hardcore blur, but ends up sounding like a sped-up version of the Offspring. They’ve got the drive, the energy, and the polka-beat drumming, but for some reason, I just can’t give two shits about what they sing about between the “whoahs,” “ohs,” and “hey, heys.” Déjà Vu is the best way to describe X-Members. Where have I heard this before? I just get the feeling these guys are diggin’ for gold in a strip-mined (mosh) pit. You won’t find anything that hasn’t already been pawed over and discarded, no matter how hard you try. They even approach metal crossover on “Step Up” (complete with “Sweet Leaf” riff!). I sorta remember that was a big deal about ten years ago. Let’s just say X-Members are much fuckin’ better than the “Awrrgh!” “Rawgrrh!” sludge that passes for hardcore usually, but they’re still not fit to worship the ground Bad Brains piss on.