For a band that is named after
Radiohead's alma mater,
Abingdon Boys School display remarkably little innovation, but still, the boys are right when thinking that the world needs more of this kind of heavy alternative rock. Their eponymous album is one part melodic rap-metal without the rap, and one part
Jimmy Eat World quasi-emo, only more sentimental than angsty, thanks largely to the old-fashioned piano lines that often underscore the heavy riffs, giving them a little soundtrack vibe -- think Blade Runner of a yakuza action movie in terms of mood.
Abingdon Boys School happily avoid all the traditional genre pitfalls: they are consistently heavy, not overly sappy (well, they sometimes slip on that one), know how to keep things varied with a disco beat or a hair metal solo (neither overdone), and, most importantly, channel their rock energy into good songwriting. There are no unnecessary stylistic detours on the record, and there isn't a single filler track, although neither are there any standout singles -- just a steady stream of convincing modern metal songs, pop-savvy enough to remind of
Filter, even if not to challenge them. Someone obviously played all these chords and riffs before, but
Abingdon Boys School's take on them is still worth the attention.