H2O: Thicker Than Water

Unlike many of their New York hardcore peers, the members of H2O have more IQ points than tattoos. They also have a less nihilistic outlook, exponentially better senses of humor, and a greater collective understanding of melody. On their second album Thicker Than Water, there is no shortage of songs about standing strong, the scene, and other NYHC staples. There's also no shortage of joyous, jackhammer-propelled punk romps with hints of pop thrown in. While the drumming and overall speed dredge up the ghost of old MDC, the overall flavor and gravelly harmonizing are more akin to the band's contemporaries in The Bouncing Souls. The song "A+," though, sounds suspiciously like The Cure's "Boys Don't Cry" at times. Whether that's intentional or not, it shows that H2O knows a good hook when it hears one, and isn't afraid to use it to promote the scene. Unity!