Cause for Alarm

Beneath the Wheel (Victory)
by Tim Den

Yes, they’re back. Again. Well, I guess I shouldn’t say “they.” After all, it’s only Keith with yet another new line-up. There’s a difference this time, though, because this line-up kicks mad ass. Beneath the Wheel sees Cause For Alarm being pushed near the sleeves of (gulp!) melody, with new guitarist Jason Banks writing all the music and giving the band a much needed change of direction. As a result, the new (almost H20-ish) style makes the songs a helluva lot more energetic. Every song here is an anthem: “Hole We Live In,” “Cleanser,” and “Homeless” all sound like they’d be great to hear live. The vocals are still mediocre, but you didn’t expect the man to change fifteen years later, did you? Who gives a fuck about how stereotypically old-school the singer is; go out on the dance floor and have a blast.
(346 North Justine St. #504 Chicago, IL 60607)