Maximum RNR – Horns Up

Bands are formed for many reasons. Sometimes its to make money. Sometimes its to get the girls. Sometimes its out of boredom. But, for the most part, bands end up starting simply for the love of music and then grow into something much bigger. And while Toronto’s Maximum RNR hasn’t quite grown into something much bigger yet, its obvious they were created by the love of music. In the short time since their last EP, a self-titled effort, these guys have become much more sound and complete and their second EP, Horns Up, is perfect proof of that.

Once again, Maximum RNR have provided us with six songs of heavy, harsh, and very raw rock and roll. The songs are all quick, ranging from ten seconds in length to a maximum of two minutes twenty one seconds, but they aren’t missing anything in them. Guitar driven rock with harsh, crazy vocals that have grown over the course of the two EPs. On the first the vocals were much more violent and unrehearsed whereas on Horns Up, they seem to be a bit more controlled. They are still sporadic and vicious, harsh and grungy, but they seem to have more structure to them to the point where you can actually understand what he says every once in a while.

Horns Up is for fans of the classic rock sound. It’s not the type of music you’ll hear on the radio or find in every Best Buy, but rather a band you have to look for, but when you find them, you’ll be glad you did. It’s not like anything you’ll find anywhere in the mainstream at the moment, and that seems to make the album that much better.

There’s no sight of rest or relaxation here, just heavy, steady rock and roll. Although the six songs end quickly, they don’t give you a minute’s rest and even play the entire EP through six times over before the album even comes to an end. Then again, that does save you the trouble of having to press play over and over, so feel free to thank them for saving you from carpel tunnel syndrome.