No Sleep Records
NOSR126-1
Xerxes "Collision Blonde"
Xerxes' sophomore full-length is backed by guitarist Will Allard, bassist Joseph Goode and drummer Ben Sears (who also plays alongside Allard in Whips/Chains). With a new line-up and some years removed from their young, violent, hardcore days, the instrumental prowess on "Collision Blonde" sounds less like their elder contemporaries and more a cleaner tone reminiscent of Jesus And Mary Chain and The Cure, yet sharp and uneasy in the vein of Bauhaus' early, gothic post-punk edge. Tracks like "Knife" and the closing "Nosedive" are aggressively built up into a cathartic release, alluding to Ceremony, Iceage and Mewithoutyou at times. Vinyl version includes digital download.
Track Listing:
1. I Was Wrong
2. Criminal, Animal
3. A Toast
4. Knife
5. Use As Directed
6. Chestnut Street
7. Collision Blonde
8. Exit 123
9. (But Here We Are)
10. Nosedive