Carpenter come to us by way of Smallman Records and the lush, rich forests of British Columbia. Like a fine craftsman, only the best materials were selected in the making of this band; taking from talented members from groups All State Champion, By A Thread, Daggermouth and Speaking of Heroes.

There seems to be a trend these days of ex-hardcore guys coming together and playing a slower-paced kind of rock, but still able to withhold their roots in the heavier genres. Carpenter are part of this long line-up of bands (starting with Cave In and Codeseven) that realized the pace needed to be a bit slower, taking lyrics and musicianship into the spotlight. It may be that the guys are getting older and the frantic pace has caught up to them and are looking to expand their role as musicians and dive into something with, dare I say, more substance.

Carpenter do a great job of meshing a lot of styles together, creating an honest rock-outfit that speaks to their label mates Sick City and Sights & Sounds. Carpenter get even more creative though with the addition of a harmonica on the track “off the road” which has a barn-dance style ending that is not usually what you hear on records like this.

I really like the bands that Smallman are putting out these days – they all share similar threads in musical style, but each quite unique and have enough separating them to be an fan of each. Perhaps they know something that I don’t and can foresee the coming trend of indie super-groups bursting out of the west coast and are snatching them up, with due cause.

Carpenter, as I had mentioned earlier are the result of a fine craftsman putting together tools needed to make an outstanding debut and indie-punk record. Everything falls into place; each cut is precise and the work contains no filler.

Bravo.