Not to be confused with the melodic '70s-inspired hard rockers from Winnipeg, this set of
Harlots is a Midwestern band composed of veterans from various screamo and post-hardcore acts like
Today Is the Day. Less interested in extreme noise terrorism than many similar acts,
the Harlots leaven their brutality with passages that show calmer influences like the axis of Canadian post-rock outfits surrounding
Godspeed You Black Emperor! ("Fall of the Matriarch"), and even at times the spacy ambient rock of
Sigur Rós ("Moment of Desperation"). The lengthy centerpiece track "Moment of Sickness" manages to tie all the band's directions into one coherent, logical piece that suggests a better than average compositional intelligence than many similar noise-for-noises-sake groups can manage. Still, for all the almost-pretty, placid passages, the overall vibe on
This Is the Second Death is all about the barked/growled vocals, blastbeat drumming, and lockstep unison riffs, so those with a disinclination toward post-hardcore clichés should steer clear. ~ Stewart Mason