No Trigger - Canyoneer

No Trigger
Canyoneer
Nitro Records
Grade: A-

Massachusetts-based No Trigger don’t play new or uniquely innovative punk rock. What they do nearly perfectly is pick up the fast-paced aggressive yet melodic punk established by bands like Lifetime and Strike Anywhere and nail it to the wall. It is quite likely that you need to be real fan of a band like Lifetime and the Richmond contingent to really get behind No Trigger. But if you are then you are going to love the twelve-track Canyoneer.

Formed in 2000, No Trigger did what most northeastern punk/hardcore bands have done – hang out and craft their show in their and friends’ basements with only occasionally seeing the light of day. This is interspersed with work and school while continuing to hope for a day when they can just be a band. Starting with their debut EP, 2004’s Extinction in Stereo, followed by tours of North America and Japan, and culminating with signing with Nitro and releasing Canyoneer, No Trigger are now a ‘band.’ No Trigger’s sound is truly held together by the radiant vocals of Tom Rheault – matching those who came before and holding his own at the same time. Rheault is joined by Mike Ciprari (drums), Mike Pryzgoda (guitar), Tom Ciesluk (bass), and Jon Strader (guitar). Produced by Bill Stevenson and Jason Livermore, No Trigger and Canyoneer make you feel young, energetic, and ready to grab the future.

Canyoneer kicks off on “The (Not So) Noble Purveyors of the Third or Fourth Coming” that sets the stage with high energy, perfectly matched vocals, guitars, and melodies all to the standard 4/4. No Trigger even throw in muted scribbling guitars of mid-90s Fat Wreck to give some nods to the west coast. This is soon followed by the similar-minded “Neon National Park” which is tighter on the melody, offers a solid rhythmic solo and hints that Canyoneer is going to be a great record. “My Woods” is more aggressive, in-your-face smashing, while “Fish Eye Lens” has compelling tripping vocals and guitars that quickly heighten your pulse. Yeah, songs like “Owner Operator” are so Lifetime, especially with the inclusion of gang vocals, but they still are splendid. Bring your grievance to the Supreme Court if you will – but you will not find many friends as we all know Alito throws down to melodic hardcore. “The Honshu Underground” takes awhile to build up and maintains a routine course, until the cool final minute acoustic breakdown. The tempo is picked up again on “Bust Tropical” that has a great bridge to another overpowering chorus. Uber-short old school hardcore fills “You Said It” and “Hail Mary Leakey” is mostly held together by the second guitar keeping a rhythmic solo. The ordinary “Attack of Orion and the Left Arm Sunburn” follows, before No Trigger employ Hayley Helmericks on vocals for “More To Offer” an ode to the lack of ladies fronting bands in scenes. Canyoneer closes on the strong party-opening, bass-following “Tundra Kids” which is basically Trigger’s anthem.

People are may quickly write off No Trigger due to minimal variance between the structure and tempo of their songs. But, if you figured out how to be awesome and rock every piece of energy out of yourself, why would you change? If No Trigger can generate the same amount, or more, energy on stage, then they will surely become a common fixture on punk fans’ shelves.