Rival Schools: United By Fate : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

The members of new york's Rival Schools are veterans of the early-Nineties days when brainy, metallic post-punk bands such as Helmet and Jawbox walked the earth and were getting signed to major labels. Schools - composed of former members of Quicksand and CIV, two bands who were making the scene at that time - work up a mighty head of steam on United by Fate, joining the thunder of Jawbox to the anxious tunefulness of the Who. Songs such as "Everything Has Its Point" and "Holding Sand" display finely wrought, almost drill-like riffs and heartfelt, impassioned melodies. A slightly more eclectic approach would have stirred the pot here, but you can't blame the band for staking a claim to its own legacy at a time when the emo-core scene needs some big-brother figures. United by Fate is a fond - not to mention energetic and tuneful - look back at the alternative rock of 1995, and that's fine.

ROB KEMP
(RS 877 - September 13, 2001)