ALBUM REVIEW: Almost Dead – Destruction Is All We Know


In 2024, opening your album with a song about warheads falling from the sky is not only timely but casts you as the needed herald of this year’s coming apocalypse and Almost Dead proves themselves to be up for the job on the aptly titled, Destruction Is All We Know (Innerstrength Records).

While they mix thrash and hardcore influences, an important detail when you take into consideration the thrash bands whose names stood the test of time, are those that did so by writing songs that were not only memorable, but employed singers whose voices stood out and did not default to having the vocals a mere obligatory afterthought. Something that metal strayed from over the past decade, but Almost Dead don’t fall prey to.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Going Off – Kill List


There’s a saying in the UK that it’s grim up north and what better place for a Hardcore band to emanate from than Manchester, in this case a five-piece called Going Off, who formed in 2020. Continue reading


EP REVIEW: Imperial Tide – Existence in Crisis


 

Imperial Tide is a hardcore group out of Las Vegas/LA. Their debut EP, Existence in Crisis, (Mascot Label Group) consists of six heavy and angry tracks – songs that barely make the three-minute mark. Doesn’t sound like anything new does it?

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ALBUM REVIEW: Gideon – More Power More Pain


Eschewing hip-hop elements and influences, Alabama hardcore outfit Gideon returns with a metallic, crunchy slugfest that is More Power More Pain (Rude Records/Equal Vision), the bruisers’ sixth full-length record.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Skin Failure – Radillac


 

Nothing about Skin Failure resembles the status quo. The artwork is cartoonishly metal; the band’s logo is metallic spray paint; and their debut is a concept album that follows the travails of an interdimensional Jesus.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Spite – Dedication To Flesh


 

The three-headed behemoth that is Spite’s Dedication To Flesh (Rise Records) has all the makings of utterly decimating the status quo and completely redefining the burgeoning hardcore punk machine, and that should excite everyone.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: A Wilhelm Scream – Lose Your Delusion


It’s been nine years since A Wilhelm Scream released Partycrasher – an eleven-song banger of an album that expanded upon the hardcore sensibilities of its predecessor Career Suicide. Now, after nearly a decade of touring, the New Bedford, MA progressive punk quintet has finally offered some fresh material with their newest release Lose Your Delusion (Creator-Destructor). Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Xibalba – Años en Infierno


Despite the intense hostility of Californian Death / Hardcore bruisers Xibalba, the Hispanic heritage of most of its members, coupled with predominantly Latin lyrics, give a sense of mystique – some may say fatal romanticism – to the music that adds to the magnetism. Fourth album Años en Infierno (Southern Lord Recordings) sees the band delve further into its more brutal side for what is rumoured to be its last album for some time, if not ever.Continue reading