Glory Bound

A metal-edged skatepunk band led by singer and professional boarder Mike Vallely, Revolution Mother are basically the entire aesthetic of the Vans Warped Tour in human personification. Their debut album is as much a lifestyle accessory as it is a collection of songs. Posi without being annoyingly up-with-people, Glory Bound tempers its hardcore thrust with guitarist/songwriter Jason Hampton's fondness for old-school '70s metal; the album was partially produced by Andy Johns, younger brother of '70s superproducer Glyn Johns and a well-known producer/engineer in his own right, who gave the songs he worked on a familiar AOR sheen that meshes surprisingly well with the hardcore-influenced rhythm section. The songs are varied enough, ranging from the full-on hardcore blasts of "The Real Deal" to riff-heavy metal (not metalcore) assaults like "The Accuser" and catchy pieces of old-fashioned boogie like the album highlight "Hole in the Sky," which features a Gary Glitter-style "Hey!" refrain that most likely makes it a big hit during the live set. The overall effect is surprisingly similar to Faith No More's The Real Thing, which featured a similar blend of then-current punk mores and unapologetic vintage metal influences. Not bad at all.