Sophie's Floorboard: Quicksand

Posts on bands like this one are always difficult to begin. The generic "Quicksand are a four-piece post-hardcore band that formed in New York..." introduction just doesn't seem fitting to encapsulate what a flagship band they were to alternative rock and metal. Though their success was moderate during their original run in the early 90's (from 1990 to 1995, specifically), it's really their posthumous influence that has made Quicksand the "classic" and "essential" band that they are. Their music was clearly forward-thinking, and it struck a chord in a lot of bands that would come to light a few years after their existence. Quicksand's sound is embedded in the foundations of bands like Glassjaw, Deftones, Thrice, McLusky, and so on. I don't need to even begin to explain the relevance and influence of those bands, who brought post-hardcore to a wider audience at the turn of the century. Without a band like Quicksand, the aforementioned may not have existed, or in the same way that they did/do.

Though I can't understate how integral this band was to the development of their genre, I also don't want to understate the quality of the music in of itself. For one, Quicksand are timeless. They continue to attract new listeners over the years, with two outstanding full-lengths that only sound better the more you listen to them. The band incorporates heavy riffs with metallic and angular tones, unique chord structures, and a pummelling rhythm section. I can't even begin to describe the uniqueness of the vocals, and the band's chemistry together is undeniable. Like most post-hardcore acts, the musicianship displayed is impeccable, and the band entwines together to create a singular force, instead of each instrument standing on its own. They blend together a slew of sounds that began to arise in alternative rock. As a point of comparison, they would tour with more underground acts like Helmet and Fugazi, as well as well-known bands like Rage Against The Machine. I think that's also part of the appeal with Quicksand; they appeal to such a wide range of listeners. Whether someone is into punk/hardcore, metal, or alternative rock, this band could catch the ear of many.

There are a few other things to note. For one, the members of this band are definitely worth mentioning. The band's frontman, vocalist/guitarist Walter Schreifels was a major force in the New York hardcore scene at the close of the 80's. He was a member of both Youth Of Today and Gorilla Biscuits, who are arguably the most well-known and influential bands to come out of that era. After Quicksand ended, he founded another notable band, which was Rival Schools. The other members of Quicksand were also involved in other hardcore bands, including Bold and Burn.

As previously mentioned, Quicksand's main years of existence were between 1990 and 1995. They reunited in 1997, and after a tour and an attempt to record a new album, inner turmoil forced them to break up again. The unreleased songs from this session would later be leaked on the internet, which is part of what lead to the online bootleg B-Sides And Rarities, which also included demos and such from earlier in their career. After over a decade since Quicksand last came together, they reunited again in 2012 to play more shows and festivals. They've been doing that off-and-on for the past few years. Again, there were talks about putting out new material, but no new music has come from Quicksand yet. This has changed, with a new release coming at the end of 2017!! Regardless, their two full-lengths are staples in any post-hardcore fans collection, and the remainder of their music is just as worthy of note. As always, I highly recommend this band, and enjoy.