Without a doubt, Rival Schools feature some impressive alumni within their ranks. Fronted by former Gorilla Biscuits/Quicksand frontman Walter Schreifels, the lineup also includes former Glassjaw/CIV/Gorilla Biscuits drummer Sammy Siegler, bassist Cache "Utah Slim" Tolman of CIV/Iceburn fame and guitarist Ian Love of Burn/Die 116. However, those expecting Quicksand or CIV pt.2 will not find it here, as Rival Schools is a turn in a more melodic direction for this quartet, who eschew the melancholic ambiance of groups like Failure with shades of progressive edgy post hardcore, emo and pop, sounding much like a lite version of At The Drive-In.

By no surprise, Walter's vocals shine brightly, as his emphatic and ever so slightly raspy croons glide across the music like skis on a slope, sounding like a more upbeat and ragged version of former Failure frontman Ken Andrews, while still packing a surprising amount of edge. Guitar wise, the album is fairly raw, utilizing an indie/emocore aesthetic that gives the music a stripped down, balls out rock n roll feel; yet the playing, courtesy of both Walter and Ian, is intricately layered with cascading buildups and sweeping effect tinged harmonics that are accentuated by the occasional acoustic strum, casting a very organic feel over the songs as a whole. The bass playing is a bit more restrained, using warm, roomy tuning and a loose, yet driving playing style that helps the songs consistently progress forward, while the drums vibrantly bang out, enlisting a talented array of hits and rolls that are more than elaborate and retain perhaps the strongest ties to the post hardcore element present within the bands sound.

In truth, the music of Rival Schools is not that far off from today's emocore genre, but where emocore tends to stagnate and dwell upon wishy washy topics, this quartet explode with energy and talented musicianship that contains traces of everything from pop to prog rock. The songs are fairly positive and just plain feel good, contrasting quite a bit with what's out there at present. It's not as avant garde or off the wall as most indie rock, nor is it as syrupy as the bulk of emo/emocore and it damn sure isn't as manufactured and moody as the glut of alternative rock and post hardcore out there at present. Instead its like a perfect middle, combining elements of the aforementioned genres and molding them into a fresh, invigorating sound. Its surely a return to the basics, but also at the same time a step into the future that is sharply focused upon talented, dynamic song writing without the gimmicks. Sure some of the tracks may be a bit too slow moving for a few people and the overall vibe conveyed by the empowering, bare bones rock sound that this album possesses may not rub people the right way; but those who are ready for something a bit more unique and challenging need look no further as this is the perfect school to become a student of. Walter Schreifels has always been known to break new ground, a fact compounded by the lasting impact that his past outing Quicksand has had to this day; and though the aggression level is a lot less present here than it was in the aforementioned act, the quality of the song writing has been driven through the roof, easily making this impressive debut a strong contender for sleeper hit of the year.