One of the best parts of writing for Ghost Cult Magazine is getting so many new bands’ (to me) albums to review that absolutely blow me away. 

Boston Hardcore legends The Hope Conspiracy did just that with their latest, Confusion/Chaos/Misery (Deathwish). I had only ever seen the band’s name in passing in online forums and a student in one of my Computer Science classes rocked their merch a few times one semester. In a mere ten minutes, my ears were dragged through sonic aggression covered in barbed wire and I enjoyed every damn second of it.

The attack begins off the bat with the album-titled track, “Confusion/Chaos/Misery,” with D-beat violent drumming and tight guitar riffs for the first minute. Then the build up to the two-part breakdown that keeps building until returning to the verse riff and a perfectly placed guitar lead to wrap the bow at the end.

“A Struggle for Power” picks right back up where we left off with more D-beat than you can throw an elbow at. This one progresses into a guitar lead followed by a great skanking section to round out the track.

Next track is a heavy favorite out of the four, “Nail in the Coffin.” Getting right to the point of humanity sending “thoughts and prayers” as there are so many terrible things in the world, yet no god responds to our cries. Instrumentally this feels like the previous two songs while maintaining its own progression, of which a heavy outro closes out this track

“Dogfight” closes out the EP and has the most crust punk riffs and overall vibes on the whole record. Beefy guitar licks and two-stepping galore even as the guitar solo hits in the second half. 

Great way to end this release and my introduction to The Hope Conspiracy. Without hesitation, I am going back through their discography now.

Buy the EP here:
https://thehopeconspiracy.bandcamp.com/album/confusion-chaos-misery

9 / 10
TIM LEDIN