Canadian punk rockers, Handheld, are set to make a splash with their self-titled debut for Year of the Sun Records. While the band toiled around the Canadian punk rock scene for nearly a decade and self-financed five releases, this marks the first of a two-album deal with Year of the Sun. The results are a fast and furious, yet melodic CD blending elements of Bad Religion, Belvedere and, especially, Green Day. The band's rhythm section of Ricky Guerrero on bass and Craig Retzler on drums is relentless, driving the album's 16 songs at a breakneck pace.
The album's leadoff track, "Sharp Point," deals with misunderstood pain. Vocalist Andy Dietrich sings, "Go away cause there's a sharp point inside me. Do you really think I'm OK?" "Dull Picks & Broken Sticks" finds the band reminiscing about their beginnings, what with the crumpled posters, stained carpet and every strummed chord. The song is short, but the lyrics are poignant.
Insecurity dominates the lyrics of "Not So Evil." In lyrics many people can relate to, Dietrich sings, "You'd think that after this much time, I'd be confident to say. But how come when the time is right, I just keep my mouth shut?"
The band shows off its musical prowess with "Incarcerated." The track leads off with a fast bass and drum into before almost metal riffing and melodic vocals kick in to drive the song home.
If there's a negative on Handheld, it's that many of the songs sound the same. This is fine if you like the song (Think AC/DC, who have written the same song for 30 years), but not so much if you don't. The band clearly has a sense of melody and should expand their musical horizons more. Perhaps as a preview of these intentions, "Awaiting" borders on folk with its acoustic guitars and mellow tones. Stylistically, it sticks out on the album as it is the only song that sounds like that but could it be a sign of things to come?
Handheld's years of hard work may have finally paid off with the release of their energetic self-titled CD. With tours of Canada scheduled, a single all over YouTube and label support in Canada, Japan and the United States, 2008 could be Handheld's year.
