The Lovekill - These Moments Are Momentum (CD)

All Music Guide

The late Seventies were an odd time in Britain. The convulsion that was punk had fitfully gasped its last, but even in its death throes punk was giving birth to myriad new movements. Few survived long, at least in their original forms, evolving over time into new genres that barely resembled their infant selves. Postpunk was the catchall term for many of them, and encompassed a variety of amorphous subgenres starting with "street punk," which swiftly evolved into hardcore, then oi, and in later years speedcore, metalcore, skacore, melodic punk and more. It also included the still unnamed gloom merchants eventually tagged Goths, but in its infancy included bone sporting punks, spikeyhaired future New Wavers with atmospheres and attitude, and artier types whom themselves spilled across the musical spectrum from protoindustrial to the New Romantics. The Lovekill may think their influences are more modern, but in reality their debut album These Moments Are Momentum is a stunning homage to ...the UK scene circa 19789. "Ride on Miner" with its assaultive guitar drone and chord changes a la The Banshees, "Sleepover"'s hardcore attack and shouted vocals, the title track's aggressive power and discordant melody, the minor chord melody and rousing guitar solos of "Nothing Yet", and the pusillanimous "Land Time" all echo an earlier time.However, as retro as many of the album's elements are, they'rereflected through a more modern prism, as subgenres are submerged into one, headier melodies bubble up, and temposquicken, all suggesting the band's influences are at least once removed from the original creators.Melodic hardcore is Lovekill's fulcrum, but by amalgamating artcore and Gothcore within, Moments ticks away into contemporary times and climes. The lyrics are equally nuanced, encapsulating both the vivid imagery of Goth and the intelligence of artpunk, but delivered with hardcore power. A blast from the past remade for the future. - JoAnn Greene, All Music Guide Read more Less