Review / 200 Words Or Less
Offsides
It's a Struggle to Communicate

Get Outta Town (2008) Michael

Offsides – It's a Struggle to Communicate cover artwork
Offsides – It's a Struggle to Communicate — Get Outta Town, 2008

Here's something new for you. Well maybe not new, but something we don't get much of these days. Offsides is a fast-paced melodic hardcore group from Connecticut with a female front-person. It's a Struggle to Communicate is the band's latest offering, a six-song EP.

Musically the group draws influence from legendary groups like 7 Seconds and Gorilla Biscuits. The music is charged with energetic drumming and some sweet riffing. You get some nice scorching riffs, but you also get bouncing melodies as well. It's a nice mix and contrast, which gives the EP a lot of personality.

Where the band will obviously distinguish themselves is with Danielle Allen's vocals. A female-fronted hardcore band isn't exactly an everyday thing in the macho world that is hardcore (don't act like it is). But regardless of her sex, Allen's deliver works extremely well with the sound quickly fired slightly higher-pitched shouts. Lyrically things cover social issues, another thing she has up on a lot of her peers.

If fast hardcore is your deal, check this out. Offsides write some slick tunes, and they have something worth listening to lyrically as well.

7.0 / 10Michael • August 3, 2008

Offsides – It's a Struggle to Communicate cover artwork
Offsides – It's a Struggle to Communicate — Get Outta Town, 2008

Related news

No Harm Done / Offsides Split 7"

Posted in Records on June 25, 2009

Recently-posted album reviews

1186

Histeria
Drunken Sailor (2025)

If you read enough press releases, you start questioning if you even know what genre names mean. Post-punk has been one of the most abused terms of the past 2-3 years and it seems to mean wildly different things to different people. To me, it’s always meant an ear for angular guitars and noise atop more traditional song concepts. 1186 … Read more

Li Jianhong

Shuttle Raven of the Dream
Utech (2025)

Li Jianhong's philosophy surpasses the direct relationship of a musician with their instrument of choice. Instead, Li has advocated for Environment Improvisation, where the urge to create and improvise is established by the artist's surroundings. Looking at Li's website you can find numerous instances that inspired him to settle down and start improvising, drawing energy from the surroundings. The music … Read more

Deseos Primitivos

Lineas de Muerte
Shadowplay Records (2025)

Some reviews are written after years of listening to a band and knowing nearly everything about them. Sometimes I listen to a record on repeat for weeks before I even look up the correct song titles – Deseos Primitivos (Primitive Desires) is the latter. This promo came to SPB as literally a one sentence quote about the band and its … Read more