The Code - Rhetoric of Reason
The Code are a very politically motivated band and it is ironic that the music suffers because of it.
I have been putting off writing a review of The Code’s Rhetoric of Reason for quite some time now; the reason being that I had nothing original or interesting to say about the EP. This review will probably be in every sense, equal to the overall vibe of the EP: boring.
The band hails from Pennsylvania and are often compared to fellow PA rockers Anti-Flag, and I mean always. They do, in fact, sound like Anti-Flag but I wouldn’t say it is a good thing. As most are aware, Anti-Flag can bore a listener to death with the repetitious use of power chords and The Code have taken note of that skill. All four songs on Rhetoric of Reason sound very similar to one another; straight ahead with loads of similar guitar structures and mundane verses. Anti-Flag have created their own sound and it works very well for them, but America only needs to hear one version of Anti-Flag to have heard enough. While there is room for Anti-Flag to keep making records, there is no room for more “sounds like Anti-Flag” bands.
While the disc was lacking, I did actually like the artwork on the EP. It is a little cliché but easily attracts the eye; it is black and white and red with a man in shackles being tortured by a corrupted society. The back cover shows the society as a flame and the shackled hand holding the matches.
As is evident through both the artwork and the lyrics, The Code are a very politically motivated band and it is ironic that the music suffers because of it. If your music isn’t very interesting, then people won’t buy your EP and listen to the political messages involved! The music simply lacks originality and creativity. There isn’t one interesting thing about it. And it isn’t that The Code are terrible musicians or that the members lack talent, it is that they just aren’t very interested in making “music” per say. The Code seem to be more interested in voicing their opinions to listeners. Truthfully, if you are a musician, the music should come first. Rhetoric of Reason sounds just like what they want it to be, and is really quite uninspiring.
(Jump Start Records)