Alongside Integrity, Ringworm are one of Cleveland, Ohio’s premiere Hardcore outfits. Formed in 1989 the band’s original run lasted until 1994 and yielded the classic The Promise debut album. Since their 1999 reunion, the band have been prolific with Seeing Through Fire being their ninth release and first since 2019’s Death Becomes My Voice.
The album marks the band’s debut for Nuclear Blast Records and seeing as its home to heavy hitters such as Cavalera Conspiracy, Immortal and Corrosion of Conformity, its not hard to see why the band are so enthused about being on the label (according to a recent interview in Brooklyn Vegan with frontman James ‘Human Furnace’ Bulloch).
The question is, will that same excitement translate in musical terms?
‘Seeing Through Fire’ starts as a mid-paced instrumental for the first minute or so and does a great job at ratcheting up the tension before the band’s trademark breakneck style kicks in. The track alternates between all-out Hardcore Punk and vicious Blackened Thrash Metal. Initially a little different to what you might expect from an opening track by Ringworm, it’s nonetheless a highly effective one.
‘Carved In Stone’ feels like what it is, a thrash classic in the Testament and Exodus vein, especially the exuberance of the latter. ‘No Solace No Quarter No Mercy’ thematically is summed up by Furnace in the same aforementioned interview “This one, delves into the endless conflict that we never seem to be free from.”. I can see why it was released as the first single, in addition to its ass-kicking qualities it has hooks for days. Top work lads.
‘Death Hoax’ is guaranteed to get the pit going, grabbing you by the throat from the off there is no messing here. It provides a nice contrast to its relatively more ‘melodic’ predecessor. With frantic soloing, I’m hesitant to compare it to nonsense such as Dragonforce (think more Rust In Peace), but there is a technicality that’s impressive and one that’s demonstrative of the band’s exceptional musicianship. ‘Thought Crimes’ is like a natural successor to ‘Death Hoax’ and as with that track gives you that one-two sucker punch straight to the face which you never thought you needed but for which you’re eternally grateful.
‘Unavoidable Truth’ employs streetwise thrash a la Nuclear Assault as well as the New York hardcore of bands such as Sick Of It All with the gang style choruses. Its positively infectious and an absolute standout on the album for me. ‘House of Flies’ not to be confused with the similarly titled Deftones track, is about as far from that band’s ambitious art-rock/nu-metal as you could get.
Ringworm doesn’t do subtlety, I’m not sure they’d be able to spell it; utterly relentless and that’s before you even hit ‘You Want it To’ which incorporates blackened death metal with Slayer flourishes.
‘Mental Decontrol’ has a wildness to it akin to Motörhead, there is a raw Rock ‘N’ Roll energy present such as “Overkill’ on methamphetamines and as for ‘Power and Blood’ it’s like the band have poured every inch of their very core and being into the making of the track. To use US prison vernacular, it has got a lot of heart. ‘Playing God’ concludes the album on a very interesting note, acoustic guitar, Phil Anselmo spoken word style vocals and a whole epic early Metallica instrumental vibe, Master of Puppets era.
Ringworm are the AC/DC of the metallic hardcore world, so while there are experimental touches dotted here and there, you pretty much know what to expect and it’s delivered each and every time.
Buy the album here:
https://ringworm.bfan.link/seeing-through-fire-lp.yde
9 / 10
REZA MILLS