‘Stealing more of our rights, They’ve stifled us once again, You have no rights, We must stand up for all humankind, The courts…are marching…into our bodies’ (No Rights)

Washington DC’s Revolution Summer era of hardcore has been a rich source of inspiration for many bands, but some contemporary interpretations struggle to match the underlying intensity that originally fuelled this sound in the mid to late 1980s.  Thankfully, there are no such misgivings with Chula Vista’s Crashing Forward.

Silent All These Years, the band’s debut release, displays an innate understanding of its influences, but also has its own distinctive take on them and one that burns with positive urgency.  Energetically impassioned vocals interlace with cleanly melodic yet muscular guitars and a tight, punchy rhythm section.  The strident opener No Rights and surging Surveillance, with a memorable guest vocal appearance courtesy of Rob Moran (Unbroken / Narrows), prove particular highlights.

Lyrically, the band focuses on the political on Side A – abortion rights (No Rights), technocracy (Digital Death), the surveillance state (Surveillance), and the politics of division (Dissemble) – and more personal themes of connection and forging bonds on the flipside.  Think, perhaps, of fusing Dag Nasty with Swiz, adding a touch of Verbal Assault and giving it a hearty rejuvenating shake, and you’ll be heading in the right direction.