Ambitions "Stranger"

Between Ambitions' Stranger and Crime In Stereo's Is Dead, Bridge 9 is having one hell of an autumn season. While Is Dead takes the label (and Crime In Stereo, for that matter, but we'll talk about that another day) in a more-restrained-than-usual direction, Stranger focuses on the fast speeds and fiery intensity that listeners likely expect.

Featuring members of With Honor, Ambitions spices up that band's style of modern, melodic hardcore with a broader variety of tempos and textures and, more obviously, singing that'll remind listeners of Ignite's ridiculously good Zoli Teglas. The bulk of Stranger fuses fast, guitar-soaked verses with more accessible and catchy choruses, but Ambitions does take some chances, experimenting with D.C.-style post-hardcore and melodic punk rock. "Fact Remains" is a driving, slowed-down song with punchy, palm-muted guitar riffs. "Rapid Succession" shifts between airy string picking and flowing, tom-heavy drumming during the verses and booming grooves. The relatively lengthy "Culmination (Of My Life's Work) is the record's least traditionally hardcore song, complete with a quiet middle section and mid-paced, driving tempos.

While Stranger's vocal hooks aren't on par with those of Ignite, they're good, and the supporting guitar melodies are tasteful and effective. Ambitions is, in the end, just good at writing memorable, melodic hardcore with a solid balance of intensity and complex songwriting, and that's what Stranger offers. I'm posting one of the band's more straightforward songs, but keep in mind that Ambitions isn't afraid to try different things.

Short and sweet: Ambitions - Postscript

Grab this one straight from Bridge 9.