This band is kicking up 80s-era skate punk. This means "Join the Army " era Suicidal Tendencies. There are a few more foot-on-the-monitor guitar heroics, so other late 80s cross-over hardcore could be referenced. The most important thing is they are not just trying to dial in the sound, but they are focused on writing hooky songs, even if they took notes from their heroes on how to do so. They kick things into thrashing speed for "S.W.O". At first glance, you might think these guys are trying to jump on the Power Trip bandwagon, but they are not as foreboding in their aggression, and seem to be more about having fun than being doomsayers of a world in demise.
The title track is more about grooving with the bass line driving things in a manner that reminds me more of Prong than say Infectious Grooves. I would have loved this in high school. "If I am Damned So Be It" has rock n roll in it's veins. It is pretty obvious hearing these guys that they are from California, as this sound could not come from anywhere else. I often reference the more metaphysical concept of a place's energy or its egregore holding a certain, and this album makes a powerful case for that concept. "Assassination" is more thrashing it also does not feel as hooky, though there are some effective riffs in motion. The breakdown groove is at the top of the list for the album's best riffs.
I like the syncopation to "Uncivilized Animals". This takes me back to when metalcore was called cross-over, and bands like DRI were more celebrated. There is a taste of 80s metal lingering in the riffs of "Now or Never". It does not make it any less hardcore as both Discharge and TSOL flirted with that sort of thing. The more deliberate metal grooving continues on "Deep Inside". You can open up the pit to "Stolen Land". It carries more thrash to it without having to pour on the speed. "Until Then" brings more big 80's in an almost Dokken-like manner. The more gritty vocal offsets this. You can hear Van Halen influence in the riffs to "Beyond Flesh & Bone". " Give'm Chaos" works more of a discordance that lives up to its name. Sure this album is slick like a Turnstile record, and one of the guitarists did tour with Turnstile, but it leans more heavily toward taking influence from Suicidal Tendencies with almost worshipful devotion, nevertheless I will give this album a 9.5, as Suicidal Tendencies haven't made any albums good since "How Will I Laugh Tomorrow, it's a lot of fun and thrashes the way I used to like.
No comments:
Post a Comment