Inside - Seven Inches To Wall Drug (1999)

Formed in August of 1995 - Inside spent it's four years together touring the United States and Europe. The band broke up in the summer of 1999 shortly after the release of their final album. Long Island's favorite sons, a late 90's emo band compared favorably to Mineral and Sunny Day Real Estate. This 5 piece formed from hardcore band Word Of Mouth, went on to spawn Blood Red, Babyteeth, Tinsnips, The Dearly Departed, The Movielife, Taking Back Sunday, etc...

Newsday – Oct 22, 1998
Performance: A
Song Writing: B
Sound: A-

Inside describes its music as "emo-core," a brand of hardcore that melds melodies (sometimes pretty, hummable ones) with the charging, distorted guitar sound of punk. It's basically what would happen if Morrissey, instead of Maynard, was the lead singer of Tool. 

That said, Inside singer Michael Malamo does an impressive job of bringing touchy-feely lyrics to hard rock without sounding like a sap. Where the poetry of most punk bands reminds you of a bloodied scab, Mallamo's incantations read more like the diaries of an outraged but admirably starry-eyed high school senior. 

Although lyrics such as "You hold my heart, now hold my hand, mold me anyway you can," don't look like much on paper, when joined with the driving guitar work of Jonathan Florencio and Vincent Corrigan, they become the kind of heart-rendering chorus that most musicians dream of writing: the one that could save your life or change it forever.

Issac Guzman 

I really liked this CD. Its really melodic indie w/great guitar harmonics. The vocals are good too, only I wish they would get a little harder and edgier sometimes to complement all the soft melody.

Punx Against Inbreeding #2

I first heard these guys about two years ago and instantly loved them. Sometimes slow and emotional, sometimes fast and rockish. I don't feel right putting them in a certain category, because they don't belong in one. Very talented at the music they play describes these guys enough. Fans of Texas is the Reason and Sensefield should most likely enjoy this. Even if you like straight hardcore or punk, you might like this, I know I love it. Track one is excellent.

Trydent #2

A collection of compilation and single tracks from yet another "emotional" post-punk band, but this one has a few key differences. First, they can write songs, rather than just a series of "parts" strung together. Second, they have a singer who can sing. Really sing, like somewhere between Mike Stipe and Adam Durwitz (yeah, I mean that as a compliment). Unfortunately, the production varies wildly from track to track which makes this a bit uneven at times. Still, I'd love to hear Inside in a real studio with a few bucks to spend. 

Sal Cannestra

Jersey Beat #64

Here's a collection of songs from Inside's previous releases. Inside is a really great band that just needs the right label to help them break out. Emo tinged and rocking in every sense.

Muddle 15/16

Gutar oriented modern rock alternative band. The lead singer reminds me of a combination of Fish from Marrillion and Dave Matthews without the power or smoothness. Smart lyrics and a tight sound makes this one enjoyable.

Mutant Renegade #10

A very passionate emo CD laden with catch choruses and a unique melodic quality. The vocals are a bit higher pitched than I expected, and at first this turned me off, although I later found myself going in the completely opposite direction and totally digging the vocalist's unique approach and soul-bearing delivery. With appropriately introspective lyrics, Inside crafts an album that is thoughtfully energetic and provocative, but without attacking the senses. The songwriting is very poppy, containing just enough noise to batter the ears into anesthetized numbness so that the tender, melodic moments can infiltrate without hindrance. As is the case with most emo and indie rock bands, Inside can kinda overdo the emotional aspect, although the band backs it up with enough hard-hitting chops to satisfy me. Probably not for everybody, although I found myself digging Inside after a few listens, particularly the first three tunes.

Probe #8

I wish more bands sounded like this: good, honest melodic hardcore with clear vocals that nevertheless sound like the vocalist is putting all they have into it. This kinda reminds me of Hot Water Music meets Into Another meets Roadside Monument, as odd as that sounds. The lyrics pretty much fall into the personal category, and the music is pretty straightforward. The recording quality could be better, but overall, I like this a whole lot.

(TC)

Heartattack  

Inside is seriously one of the best emo/indie rock bands that I've heard in a really long time. The vocals are soooo good. Music is fantastic. Live they rock as well. All fans of the indie rock/emo genre should really check this out. Pretty parts accentuated by a few heavy parts, great vocals, what more could you ask for? This CD contains all three 7"s, a few comp songs, and a live recording recorded last spring when they played A Sometime Promise’s last show. What more could you want?

Flipside

t's really a shame to come into a new band after they broke up. I did it with Mineral and a bunch of other emo bands, and now I've done it with Inside. Their most recent and last full-length, My Funeral, was reviewed here recently. This album, which was released before My Funeral but not by much, is all tracks from the band's 7-inches, B-sides, and a few live tracks thrown in for good measure. Like most compilations of 7-inch releases, it doesn't have the maturity and crisp production of a full-length LP. But, also like many 7-inch releases, these songs have a hefty dose of intensity and edgy rock. I think that a band has trouble writing an entire album's worth of songs with that dose of intensity at the same time, but with 7-inches, you're bound to get the gems.

"Stumbled on a Penny" starts off with what was likely a My Funeral cast-off. It's a great song, rocking and flowing quickly and featuring Michael Mallamo trademark high-pitched but beautiful voice. "Wait Until Tomorrow" starts off slow, like an emo ballad, but it picks up at the end, becoming beautiful and powerful as Mallamo sings passionately, "Don't break the silence!" "Postcard Memories," in addition to having a great name, is a flowing, bass-driven slower rock song. The chorus picks up, while the verses slow down and feature the intricately written and deeply personal lyrics. "Ray Brower" is a driving, powerful song with vocals just barely on the edge of being screamed as Mallamo shouts out, "maybe just one more time and I'll close my eyes forever." "Broken Promise" (a good emo name) starts off rather mediocre, but at 2 minutes, it kicks in with a chugging, driving guitar riff and screaming vocals. Now that's emo-core! "Regarding Time Lost" is a wonderful song, slow and fast, amazing lyrics, and a great chugging guitar part that makes me feel good inside. Heh...inside, get it?

And, finally, track 10 is 21 minutes long and consists of about five songs played by the band live. Here is where you hear Inside's true beauty. They've proven they can produce their songs well on this and My Funeral. But, live, they prove they are amazing musicians. Sure, the quality of the live tracks isn't so good, but the intensity here is just phenomenal. The band plays so hard, and the vocals are so blaringly screamed and intense. This sounds like Indian Summer's live album in parts, except Inside can slow it up and sing so prettily when they want to.

So, Inside has proven to be one of my new favorite bands. Their brand of intense and finely crafted emo is powerful and beautiful, something that's missing from other emo-posers out there. They still take more from Mineral and Christie Front Drive and Cross My Heart than Indian Summer and I Hate Myself on their album tracks, but this album, with their intense live tracks, proves the band can rock it hardcore style as well. Yet, they broke up. It's a shame, because I am definitely an Inside fan.

Delusions of Adequacy - Online Magazine

Inside - Seven Inches To Wall Drug (1999) 320kbps