Hoover - Lurid Traversal of Rte. 7

Originally released in 1994, The Lurid Traversal of Route 7 stands as the first and only full-length album by Washington D.C.’s Hoover, a band whose brief but impactful run left an indelible mark on post-hardcore and underground music.

Across its tense, sprawling songs, the album balances tightly wound rhythms, off-kilter guitar lines, and emotionally raw vocals, creating a sound that is both restless and atmospheric. Hoover’s music pushed beyond the constraints of hardcore, leaning into the darker, more experimental territory that would help shape the sound of Dischord’s mid-’90s catalog.

Often cited as a seminal release of the D.C. scene, The Lurid Traversal of Route 7 is a brooding and dynamic statement—equal parts intensity and restraint. For listeners who trace the lineage from hardcore to post-hardcore, this album remains a vital chapter, capturing Hoover at their most uncompromising and forward-thinking.