Ready to snap

>> Snapcase carry the torch--and the weight--of hardcore heroism

By JOHNSON CUMMINS

Memo to all young bands out there: be careful what you wish for--you might just get it.

In '97 Snapcase released the stellar CD Progression Through Unlearning. In '98, Sweden's Refused upped the ante and released The Shape of Punk to Come. These two albums changed the face of hardcore by raising the bar for all bands in the genre, while making even the most jaded critic take notice. Shortly after Refused's landmark album hit the shelves, the band caved in to the pressure of popularity and called it a day, passing the hardcore torch to Snapcase.

As their popularity began growing outside of the hardcore community (a tour with the Deftones and a spot on the Warped Tour helped), Snapcase also decided to pull the plug on the band. "We ended up quitting the band for about six months," says singer Daryl Taberski, "but quickly realized that the band just needed a break more than anything. When Progression came out I didn't think we were prepared for how well it was going to do and we weren't prepared to be in a full-time band. I think now we are a little more ready and appreciative of the opportunities that come our way."

Snapcase still haven't quite conquered the full-time thing just yet. When they swing through town they will have a fill-in guy behind the traps--drummer Tim Redmond is missing the tour due to his regular gig as a university professor. One thing Snapcase have managed to conquer, though, is dealing with the massive weight heaped on their shoulders.

After the success of Progression, every major label came a-courtin' but the band to chose to remain loyal to indie giant Victory Records. Alternative Press magazine also turned the pressure up by making Snapcase's new CD Designs for Automation one of the most anticipated records of 2000. But Snapcase have responded by becoming thick-skinned to all outside influences and seem ready to take over.

"I think we had the listener more in mind when we did Progression, but this time that really didn't influence us. For Designs, there was more input from all the band members. We just relaxed and let everything come out naturally." :

At Snowjam 2000 with Down By Law, Grade, Mustard Plug, Bigwig and Flashlight, at the Spectrum, Thursday, March 23, 8pm, $15