Hardcore – Page 23 – Wonderbox Metal

Shin To Shin – Shin To Shin (Review)

Coming from the US this is a Metal/Hardcore release with lots of muscle and attitude. I hesitate to call this Metalcore as that brings up negative associations for many; this is of the original Old-School Metal/Hardcore crossover period.

The guitars are heavy and want you to know this. They destroy everything in their path with a certainty born of experience.

The vocals are gruff shouts and speak of a singer who is at home on the rough side of things.

The songs are generally short, with an Old-School Hardcore belligerence filling every second with attitude and confidence. The Metal influence is not found wanting either though, with the aforementioned guitars being thick and beefy and the occasional solo played well.

I haven’t heard an album of this style for a while. Reminding of a band like Madball only with more of a Metallic edge; this is an enjoyable 22 minutes that’s best spent in the pit followed by a nice lie down to recover.

Reproacher – Nothing to Save (Review)

Reproacher are a Metallic Hardcore band from the US. Having enjoyed Reproacher’s previous releases I was looking forward to checking this one out.

I was not disappointed. This is intense, brutal and heavier than a really heavy thing. Reproacher’s assault is one of pressure and deadly intent.

Coming from the Converge-style of Hardcore this is scathing and vitriol-fuelled extremity. Powered by an undercurrent of Sludge and Crust, these tracks seethe violence from every sweaty pore.

Reproacher are no one-trick band though and they add in variety to their bruising onslaught with some interesting and inventive sections and ideas. The predatory crawl of Ballast contrasts nicely with the grinding charge of The Champion is Fucked, for example.

The album rips along through up-tempo and low-tempo tracks, all the while displaying a feel for thick guitar-based atmosphere and a good variety of songwriting.

This is for all worshippers of heaviness. Bring Reproacher into your world.

American Standards – The Death Of Rhythm And Blues (Review)

American Standards come from the US and play a fierce brand of inventive Hardcore.

This is a fresh take on the genre with a sound that actually recalls some of Raging Speedhorn’s later work. This is angular, aggressive and in your face.

The energy of these songs cannot be denied and these 5 tracks are a perfect example of heavy music that is modern and relevant, without losing integrity or worth.

Managing to take the best parts of chaos and restraint, they take the Drowningman blueprint and ramp up the aggression until they have torn it to shreds. I can also hear shades of the magnificent Norma Jean in the playful way they effortlessly produce enviable, inspired songs.

At only a brief 14 minutes this EP is a shockingly good listen and should appeal to anyone who likes non-standard, innovative modern Metal. Apparently they have released an album prior to this EP, so it’s time for me to go and hunt that down now…

Haymaker – Let Them Rot (Review)

US Hardcore band Haymaker release a short, sharp, shock of an EP.

With 4 tracks and lasting only 4 minutes it wastes no time in making an impact. High octane Hardcore that is hot enough to leave scorch marks.

The first song Let Them Rot may only be 1 and a half minutes long but it has a good riff, good pacing and character. Each song rumbles along like a bastard hybrid of Converge and primitive Grindcore with the singer reminding me of a harsher version of the guy from Most Precious Blood.

A short release destined for the world of 7″ Vinyl, this is a good old-fashioned rip-through of anger and hostility. I like.