For over thirty years, Converge has brought us some of the most unique metalcore and influenced countless other bands. Their eleventh full-length, Love Is Not Enough (Deathwish Inc.), continues this chaotic journey they refer to as a discography. While there was a little bit of filler (“Beyond Repair” acting as an instrumental break and killing the momentum), most of the ten tracks spanning over half an hour hit like a brick wall on wheels. Continue reading
One of the defining characteristics of the hardcore scene is its emphasis on community and companionship, especially between the artists and the fans.
Australian up-and-comers AWOL have debuted with Flatspot Records for their sophomore record Tear ‘Em To Bits and this is, by and large, a hardcore album for the people. Continue reading
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
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
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.
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.
Well, God’s Hate has gone out of their way to make sure you don’t confuse their sophomore LP with anything else on the rack. You know the one, God’s Hate (Closed Casket Activities) featuring the track ‘God’s Hate.’ And yes, that was a record store joke. If you don’t know what that means, ask your parents. It’s fitting too considering that the stuff on God’s Hate recalls an era before streaming or even iPods and Zunes (okay, really ask your parents).
Album artwork can really help set the tone for an album. Providing a visual companion and interpretation to the audio within, it gives the listener an idea of what to expect when they delve into the main work of art. At first glance Bars Of Gold’s new album Shelters (Equal Vision) would set an expectation to the listener that this record would be a soothing record consisting of seaside recordings and other ambience. Continue reading