ProvokeFrom the area of Brisbane, Queensland comes Australia's Provoke who are heavily influenced by the likes of Madball, Sick of It All, Skarhead, Cro-Mags, and Agnostic Front (I probably should have just said NYHC huh?). This four piece plays grove driven hardcore. Because of only having one guitarist there are limited opportunities for things like leads and what not but nonetheless these guys play the style well and make up for it with the intensity that they put into their 1-2 minute long songs.
Yeah, the NYHC sound has been done countless time by countless bands but you have to think geographically here. From what I know there just aren't many bands in Australia playing this style of hardcore so where they're from this is fresh.
But don't think for a second that these guys get by just because of that because though it would be difficult for them to stand out amidst the legions of bands in the US playing this style I feel they would still be able to hop on a label because the play the style damn well.
These guys are treading a well traveled path lyrically, you know the deal, songs about betrayal, calling out the insincere, and even a song about the police abusing their authority which are topics taken right out of the playbook of most of NYHC bands. The one song that isn't a new idea but not as frequently used is the song "Left Behind" which has the singer telling his friends to "...remember [him] me for how [he] I lived and not for how [he] I died." Another song with a positive vibe is "I Check Myself" which is about keeping things in perspective and checking ones self when they aren't being the person they should be. Again, it isn't anything fresh but it helps add to the variety of the lyrics.
The tattoo inspired artwork of a tiger and dragon engaged in a fight looks good to these eyes and it obviously fits into the style of hardcore that these guys are playing. The man who did the layout did a nice job of using the space given, though I would've liked to see some background artwork behind the lyrics but the photo collage in the middle almost makes up for it.
Rating: 3.5/5
Songs Worthy of Replay: "I Check Myself" & "Left Behind"
Synopsis: These Aussies play the NYHC style well, and well enough that a person that has heard tons of it can still appreciate it. Plus the slight accent of the vocalist gives them some character to help them stand out a bit. This one has great artwork and a good recording so give these guys a listen when you get a chance.
As I always say, check out the band and decide for yourself. I am but one individual with his own tastes and preferences that are probably much different than yours. With that said, check out these links: