Stretch Arm Strong - "Rituals of Life"

South Carolina has, to my knowledge, three redeeming qualities: Charleston, a fine Old South coastal town with an abundant and drool-worthy female population, the Cooper River Bridge Run, and low country cookin'; a population of "The South will rise again" creed-carriers, themselves droolers, so numerous that tears of laughter suppress the anti-bigot's naturally resulting nausea; and posicore progenitors Stretch Arm Strong.

SAS's 1999 masterpiece, Rituals of Life, is a slab of awesome. Opening with picked acoustic guitar, the momentary calm crumbles in a crash, all fist pumps and flailing bodies from then on. Rituals is rife with burly riffs and momentous breakdowns that barely break tempo, conducive to circle pits and maniacal stage diving, flips and all. There's nothing showy about SAS, simply consistency and passion, the pinnacle of sing-and-sweat-along hardcore. I don't blush a bit when vocalist Chris McLane scrapes his bowels to punish the mic, "Don't you know you are MY EVERYTHING, don't you know you make MY HEART SING!"

Supplemented by the exceptional A Revolution Transmission, the duo comprise the bulk of the SAS's raucous, pile-on driven live sets. These experiences banish popular notions of intensity to Candyland in a flurry of cross-stage sprints, spins, and glorious jump kicks.

What SAS won't need to capture your interest: "Second Chances"

Pibba's First Commandment: Buy Rituals of Life from Solid State.