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She Wants Revenge - This is Forever

She Wants Revenge write breakup records. Their first record was about lost love, and broken hearts, this new record is no different. Sure it feels like songs about a high-school boy who just lost his first girlfriend a lot of the time, but I don't know anyone who doesn't feel that way for at least a few minutes after they've broken up with someone they cared about. Everyone needs to own at least a few good post-breakup records, and She Wants Revenge are right there to fill the gap. I'd probably suggest a Stabbing Westward album or two as well.

This is Forever can be best described as modern darkwave. There are a lot of elements of The Cure and Bauhaus in the music, as well as tributes to new wave synth-pop. Adam Bravin and Justin Warfield were (are) both world renowned club DJs, they both got their start in the industry as electronic musicians, and disc spinners. While they use guitars in lieu of turntables, but the electronic sensibility is ever-present. They would have fit in well with the new-wave trend of the early 80's and I feel that they fit into the current trend of synth-rock, post-new-wave that sprang up a few years ago and still has a slim following. The problem with writing niche music is that it is quickly forgotten no matter how good the songwriting is. The other thing that She Wants Revenge suffer from are that they are a double niche band. Songs about unrequited love are great, but branching out would be advisable. I suppose their theory is that one should stick to what he knows.

One of the more interesting things about She Wants Revenge are that they were signed to Fred Durst's record label after Durst met them and saw them play. Most people would put that fact in the strike column, but Durst truly has an ear for talent. The other group signed to his label are Ringside another synthy indie rock band who are fronted by the actor Balthazar Getty. Say what you will about Fred Drust as a musician, or even as a public figure in general, but he man has a thirsty ear for under-appreciated talent.

I will continue to purchase She Wants Revenge albums as long as they continue making them. The music is good, and I am usually in a bad mood. It is, however mood music. I'm not going to put this record on during a bright summer afternoon kicking back with my friends, but alone at home on a bitter-cold winter morning it is the soundtrack to life. This is Forever isn't nearly as strong an effort as the Self-Titled debut, but as far as sophomore albums by small bands go it's a knockout.

6.7/10