The Freeze

One Flase Move (Dr. Strange)
by Jon Sarre

Too familiar in that déjà vu sense to be new, but too world-weary to be from this seminal Boston Hardcore icons’ early ’80s heyday and no information. I’m guessin’ Clif Hanger (who lost an “f” somewhere down the line) did the implausible and reformed The Freeze. Hmm, who woulda figured? Since I usually cringe when I get this kinda stuff, you can excuse me for having low expectations… but, hey! This is pretty great!

Unlike loads of their contemporaries, the Freeze had a gifted lyricist in the person of Hanger. His oft personal accounts of alienation and misanthropy and his unique story teller’s phrasing paced the band’s songs, that way (and here’s where it’s important), the rest of the Freeze didn’t haveta play as fast as humanly possible. See, they didn’t have to cover up the fact that they didn’t have anything to say.

One False Move essentially follows that same model: mid-tempo buzzsaw with ringing leads, a solid rhythm section and the vocals clearly enunciated with a quick, one-phrase chorus. Hanger practices self-therapy thru songwriting, perhaps, but the listener gains from it. As the Freeze’s main voice, he comes across tired, kinda bitter, oft burned. “I don’t know why I keep hangin’ on,” he announces on “New Poison.” He paints vivid pictures of junkie ex-bandmates (“The Band’s Waiting” where it’s kinda cool how the line “take an armful” sorta sounds like “take an encore,” maybe sorta the reason entertainers turn to drugs in the first place, to maintain that performance high), he let’s ya know he’s burned out on living (“Makes me Nervous” to name one), but it’s not like he’s wastin’ time mouthing clichés. He’s baring his insides and when he sings about sending (I assume) Taang’s Curtis a letter bomb (on “Contract High”), he’s baring his incisors. If his teeth are as sharp as his words, somebody could be in trouble.