Permanent

Hardcore band from Virginia, USA. Outspoken but humble, and pissed off but rational, Permanent has a Crime In Stereo-like ability to channel their rage into creating succinct, smart and tastefully melodic hardcore. The Virginia-based band's full-length debut, Sink/Swim, is an all-too-brief 21-minute affair, but it provides enough room for 10 memorable songs, chock full of melodic hardcore's staples and a few surprises.

Outspoken but humble, and pissed off but rational, Permanent has a Crime In Stereo-like ability to channel their rage into creating succinct, smart and tastefully melodic hardcore. The Virginia-based band's full-length debut, Sink/Swim, is an all-too-brief 21-minute affair, but it provides enough room for 10 memorable songs, chock full of melodic hardcore's staples and a few surprises. While Permanent generally keeps the pace fast, the melodic chord progressions brisk, and the vocals shouted, there's a distinct speed -- almost tongue-twisting, at times -- to the singing, as well as a variety of tempos. "Sidestepping" ends with more than 30 seconds of relaxed reggea, "Sink/Swim" is a mid-paced instrumental that brings to mind Modern Life Is War, and several other songs venture into textured, subdued melodic segues that tend to burst into the more rippin' material. Permanent displays versatility and a melodic penchant throughout Sink/Swim, keeping the record from feeling flat or typical, or falling into breakdowns and excessive gang vocals.

Front man Logan's lyrics tend to acknowledge the reality of aging and his attempts to hold onto his youth -- a topic most 20-something hardcore listeners can likely appreciate. Like the music itself, the words ring with sincerity, rounding out an entirely solid melodic hardcore album that's not only varied, but energetic. Now we need more than 21 minutes of it.