:: Various Artists - Take Action! Volume 7 (includes DVD)

Various Artists

It’s that time of the year again with Hopeless Records once more putting together another release, in their ongoing charity based compilations under the name of ‘Take Action’. This year represents the seventh release in the long running series, with five percent of the proceeds donated to a not-for-profit organisation. This year, the proceeds go to the Do Something organization, which provide grants to innovative young people to help them take their ideas on how to improve their local community and make it happen. As for the compilation, ‘Take Action! Volume 7’ it is similar in design to last year’s effort, with both audio and DVD components offering up a wide selection of what the current emo-rock, metalcore, scream-core, pop-punk scene has to offer.

Every Time I Die guitarist Andy Williams opens up the CD with a brief public service announcement about the Do Something foundation, which is quickly followed by his band’s current rocking single ‘We’re Wolf’. The remaining eighteen tracks on the CD cover a wide spectrum of sounds and styles, including big name acts such as Motion City Soundtrack, Silverstein, From First To Last, Thrice, The Matches, Haste The Day, The Bled, Emery and All Time Low. But as good as the CD is, it’s the DVD that represents real value for your money. Again, there’s plenty of variety shown over the twenty promotional video clips included this time around. Motion City Soundtrack (‘This Is For Real’), This Providence (‘My Beautiful Rescue’), Hellogoodbye (‘Bonnie Taylor Shakedown 2K1’), Jet Lag Gemini (‘Run This City’) and Plain White T’s (‘Making A Memory’) start off the collection with a their brand of catchy pop rock, while The All American Rejects (‘I’m Waiting’), MXPX (‘Shut It Down’) and Four Year Strong ‘Heroes Get Remembered, Legends Never Die’) add a bit of punk-rock to the mix with their offerings. But it’s not all catchy and lightweight, as Alesana (‘Ambrosia’), Every Time I Die (‘We’re Wolf’), The Devil Wears Prada (‘Hey John, What’s Your Name Again?’), A Life Once Lost (‘Firewater Joyride’), The Human Abstract (‘Vela, Together We Await The Storm’), The Red Chord (‘Dread Prevailed’), August Burns Red (‘Composure’), High On Fire (‘Rumors Of War’) and Suicide Silence (‘The Price Of Beauty’) bring out their heavier side for the DVD.

‘Take Action! Volume 7’ is another in what has been a great compilation series that offers up a bit of everything to everyone. Besides that, at least you can walk away knowing that by checking out this release, you’re also helping a very good cause.