DeathkillerAt the end of 2006 I received a copy of this trio's 3-song demo (all of the songs made their way on to the full length), I had planned on giving it a review but at that time shit got kind of crazy, so it was never given a review (sorry guys and girl!). It was short and sweet and I definitely liked it and I doubt it was intentional but it was a good idea to keep it as short as they did, definitely leaves the listener wanting more, which is a good marketing tool if you think you can get an album out on it's heels. It also doesn't hurt when you can use the ex-members to your advantage, and considering they have ex members of Hatebreed (McIntosh) and Most Precious Blood (Realbuto) they already have a leg up. But that's not to discredit this band because they have a sound that is actually unique among the majority of its counterparts and comes off pretty damn sincere to boot.
This 12 track lesson in rocked out hardcore opens up with "Take Me To Your Bleeder", which also opened up the aforementioned demo, and it's the perfect jump off song. The drummer beats the hi-hat with four clicks they are off and going. Song after song the band beats you with a driving rhythm section that has all the right turns in all the right places. That is until the title track comes on at #8 which incorporates just a little more melody than the first 7. The vocals really give this band an edge, McIntosh's scream singing just works wonders with the Black Flag meets The Bronx rocked out sound.
The song titles are witty without going over the top, my two favorites are "Carlos D Is In My Top 8" and "Fear & Loathing In DC". Bit I digress, the lyrics are fucking sweeeeeet. The songs don't come outright and say it but there are a lot of attacks on the President ( I {ass}ume anyway). McIntosh also sets his aim on the lack of art and expression in music these days, the impossible to patrol internet, the exploitation of the blue collar worker and people who will do anything to impress others. Anyone that can write a song like this is A-OK in my book:
"Man Alone"--"Justify the right to try and live a life again/It didn't break me/There's a light inside and each of us decides what role it plays/You managed to find the black inside of me/So help me God/It's all I can do to keep from hunting you down and eating your bones-If I'm a man alone/I'll bleed like a man alone/I can be the worst kind of enemy/Trust in these words is the only thing that can save us now-So run from your shame/If I'm a man alone-I'll fight like a man alone/Sometimes I feel like a man alone/I'll fight and I'll bleed like a man alone."
The recording boasts a louder than average mix which didn't give me reason to bitch. The guitar tone sounds really warm with an overdrive that works well with the fuzzy bass tone that is used. The drums sound great, the snare is dense with a fair amount of pop. The vocals sound great, and the little overdubs and shit were used to their advantage.
Their demo was simple as far as demos go and this is no different for the full length layout. It isn't bad but it's not going to jump out at you. It's simple and to the point. The album is called New England Is Sinking so the front cover works. For whatever reason though I'm not huge into the colors or actual designs used. The booklet displays the lyrics vertically over three pages. The back of the tray (no inside tray) is as simple as it comes, black background with a times roman font in white.
Rating: 3.75/5
Songs Worthy of Replay: Carlos D Is In My Top 8, Take Me To Your Bleeder and New England Is Sinking
Synopsis: These guys have a sound that isn't all that common in today's hardcore scene. I'm not saying it's groundbreaking, it's just that many bands haven't done it this way for awhile or at least bands don't deliver like these guys do. If you like rocked out hardcore check out the bands Myspace page to listen to some tracks and find out what they're up to.