None More Black

File Under Black is the full-length debut of Philadelphia's None More Black, one of the combos that emerged in the wake of the Kid Dynamite implosion. KD vocalist Jason Shevchuk picks up a guitar for this new project, and is joined by guitarist and brother Jeff Shevchuk, Kill Your Idols bassist Paul Delaney, and drummer Mike McEvoy. And while it still sounds like Shevchuk's been clearing his throat with lye and his singing style hasn't budged much beyond a defined rant, None More Black takes quite a few melodic back roads during its trip down the punk and hardcore highway. After a relatively conventional opening salvo, the band launches into the enormous power chords of "Dinner's for Suckers." Next, "The Ratio of People to Cake" becomes the first of quite a few of File Under Black's cuts to hammer almost incessantly on one churning guitar note as the rhythm section stops, starts, or rolls with fury underneath Shevchuk's often obtuse lyrical couplets. The formula doesn't necessarily grow old, especially when it's paced with more tuneful moments. "Never Heard of Corduroy" might be the Psychedelic Furs' long-lost punk rock anthem, "Drop the Pop" hits up indie rock for a fix of guitar heroism, and "The Affiliates" gives bored silly nine-to-fivers a new anthem to quit their jobs to (everybody now, "Hey! Hey! Hey!"). These cuts save a debut that, while ambitious, might otherwise seem overly long without much payoff beyond by-the-numbers fireballs of punk and hardcore. ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide