''Pursuance'' is the third full-length studio album from

melodic hardcore Melodic hardcore is a broadly defined subgenre of hardcore punk with a strong emphasis on melody in its guitar work. The style often includes guitar harmonies, riffs using octave chords, as well as broken chords. Additionally, lyrics tend towar ...

band,

Only Crime Only Crime is an American melodic hardcore group formed by Good Riddance singer Russ Rankin and Bane guitarist Aaron Dalbec in 2003. The band plays melodic but hard-hitting punk rock that borrows heavily from early-1980s hardcore bands such ...

. The album was released on May 13, 2014 and is the band's first studio album to feature bassist Dan Kelly, formerly a member of the punk rock band

The Frisk The Frisk was an American punk rock band from Berkeley, California, formed by Jesse Luscious, Mike Sexxx and Zach Attack, all former members of The Criminals, along with AFI member Hunter Burgan, following The Criminals 2000 breakup. The Frisk ...

and guitarist Matt Hoffman, formerly of the punk band

Modern Life is War Modern Life Is War is an American hardcore punk band formed in Marshalltown, Iowa, in 2002. During Modern Life Is War's six-year original run, the band released three full-length albums and one self-titled 7-inch EP. Despite a growing profile on ...

. Pursuance is the band's first album to be released on

Rise Records Rise Records is an American record label currently based in Beaverton, Oregon, mainly focusing on alternative rock, heavy metal, and punk rock music artists. History Rise was founded in 1991 by Craig Ericson in Nevada City, California. He relea ...

, having the previous two studio albums released on

Fat Wreck Chords Fat Wreck Chords (pronounced "Fat Records") is an independent record label based in San Francisco focused on punk rock. It was started by NOFX lead singer Michael Burkett (better known as Fat Mike) and his wife at the time, Erin Burkett in 1990. ...

. The album was produced by Bill Stevenson and was recorded at Stevenson's own recording studio

The Blasting Room The Blasting Room is a recording studio in Fort Collins, Colorado. Founded by members of the punk rock band All in 1994, it is owned and operated by musician Bill Stevenson ( Descendents, Black Flag, All, Only Crime) and Jason Livermore. T ...

Fort Collins A fortification (also called a fort, fortress, fastness, or stronghold) is a military construction designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from La ...

Colorado Colorado is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States. It is one of the Mountain states, sharing the Four Corners region with Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. It is also bordered by Wyoming to the north, Nebraska to the northeast, Kansas ...

Critical reception

''Pursuance'' received positive reviews from critics, with the website Dying Scene praising the album for its more melodic sound it showcases compared to the previous studio albums, but still with plenty of anger. Dying Scene also stated in the review that with the band's first two albums being more focused on hardcore punk, this album was "both a natural progression and a bit of a departure". The review also mentioned the album's "bitter lyrics collide with almost metal guitar riffs" and that the "discordant riffs tie the album together in a very satisfyingly pissed off package". ''Richard Cocksedge'' of Punknews wrote "Where To The Nines failed to ignite my passion, Pursuance is full of fire and brimstone, bringing to the fore the qualities that you would expect from the five members of the band. I still don't like the term 'supergroup' but Only Crime have shown that the bringing together of a variety of people, skilled at their chosen field, can bear fruit. Pursuance is an album lacking filler and sets a high standard for melodic hardcore with its invigorating suite of songs."

Track listing

All music written by

, all lyrics by Russ Rankin #"We Are Divided" – 2:24 #"Contagious" – 2:28 #"In Blood" – 2:20 #"One Last Breath" – 2:21 #"Drowning" – 2:21 #"Absolution" – 3:01 #"No Truth In Love" – 1:57 #"Find Yourself Alone" – 1:58 #"Life Was Fair" – 2:46 #"See It Die" – 1:55 #"Emptiness And Lies" – 1:53 #"Bred To Fail" – 2:55

Personnel

* Russ Rankin – vocals *

Zach Blair Zach Blair (born December 26, 1974) is an American musician, best known as the lead guitarist and backing vocalist for Chicago-based punk rock band Rise Against. He has been with the band since 2008, first appearing on their fifth studio album ...

– guitar * Matt Hoffman – guitar * Dan Kelly – bass * Bill Stevenson – drums

Production

* Recorded at the

Blasting Room The Blasting Room is a recording studio in Fort Collins, Colorado. Founded by members of the punk rock band All in 1994, it is owned and operated by musician Bill Stevenson (Descendents, Black Flag, All, Only Crime) and Jason Livermore. The ...

Fort Collins, Colorado Fort Collins is a List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality, home rule municipality in Larimer County, Colorado, United States, and its county seat. The population was 169,810 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, an i ...

, U.S. * Produced by

* Mixed by Chris Beeble * Engineered by Jason Livermore, Andrew Berlin, and Bill Stevenson

References

{{Authority control 2014 albums Only Crime albums Rise Records albums Albums produced by Bill Stevenson (musician)