The Line

Item: Monsters We Breed
Author: Brian A. Smith

Monsters We Breed

(2002)

Reviewed by Brian A. Smith

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Label Volcom EntertainmentThe Phantom Tollbooth2002

alternative metal pop punk punk

Monsters We Breed is an interesting amalgamation of early 90's alternative metal in the vein of Faith No More and Red Hot Chili Peppers and more recent pop punk bands Green Day and Blink 182. Ryan Immegart, "Gip" Kaiser, and Don Horne share vocals, which range from Henry Rollins to Billy Idol to Green Day.

"Beyond the Border" is about someone trying to break out of the boring routine their life has become. "Memory" shows the way in which a friendship can fade over time. "The Earthworm Crisis" seems to deal with a prisoner trying to make sense of it all, coming to the end of his sentence and not knowing which path he will take upon his release:

Got seven left, wish I could say I was lucky
Saw the devil standing in my room, red and tall
Spent the last six days on my knees praying
If there's a God, show me now or not at all?

"Greed Stained the Scene" puts a new spin on a situation familiar to a lot of bands, that of being signed and being given lots of promises, then finding out that someone else made all of the money. It refers to the stereotypical rock and roll sellout, of the changes bands make to fit into whatever is popular, and end up not knowing how they got to where they are. "Goliath vs. the S. Land" stays in that vein, mentioning that "the thrill of the kill is gone, my own rock and roll Babylon", lamenting the grind that the job has become, of trying to enjoy being in music when it's no longer exciting.

Out of Big Bear Lake, California, the Line is a favorite of the skate and snowboard crowd. While the NOFX and Bad Religion influences are evident at times, the band manages never to fall into the soundalike mold, instead creating a mix of the early and late 90's that makes them hard to categorize. Monsters We Breed is definitely an album that grows on you with repeated listens.

3.5 tocks