The Architect of the Anthem: Rival Schools Bring a Masterclass in Post-Hardcore to KEXP
There is a specific alchemy that occurs when Walter Schreifels takes the stage. As the creative engine behind Gorilla Biscuits Quicksand anre more, Schreifels drafted the blueprint for melodic hardcore, but it was with Rival Schools that he perfected the balance of grit and grace. Today, the anticipation for the band’s KEXP in-studio session finally reaches its boiling point with its official release.
Recorded this past October, the session is a high-definition document of a « supergroup » that has outgrown its title to become a cornerstone of the genre. The performance captures the band’s distinctive DNA—a blend of jagged, rhythmic intensity and the soaring, bittersweet melodies that redefined « heavy » music at the turn of the millennium.
The setlist serves as a targeted retrospective, leaning heavily into the band’s 2001 debut album, ‘United by Fate’. This cult-classic foundational effort is represented by blistering versions of “69 Guns,” the atmospheric “Travel By Telephone,” and their definitive anthem, “Used For Glue.” Bridging the gap to their later work, the band also revisits “Wring It Out,” the standout highlight from their 2011 follow-up, ‘Pedals’.
In an era of fleeting social media clips, this KEXP session offers a rare, pristine look at the telepathic chemistry of a band that hasn’t traded a shred of urgency for experience. Rival Schools didn’t just play their songs; they plastered the room with a reminder that melodic intensity remains a timeless currency.
