Prolong The Agony – All We Are EP


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The south coast of England has recently become renowned for its huge metalcore scene, with thousands of bands aiming to secure a record deal. Hardworking four-piece Prolong The Agony are one of the lucky bands to achieve this, recently signing to In At The Deep End Records. All We Are is their latest offering, and it is safe to say that it will definitely blow you out of the water.

Opening track ‘Dead Dreams’ sets the tone of the EP perfectly: its brutal riffs and technical guitar solos are enough to win metal fans across the spectrum over. Lead singer Larry Welling’s vocals are as heavy as always, but he has definitely stepped up his game for the new release. Just by listening to the first song it’s easy to hear exactly how much effort has gone into All We Are, and it has definitely paid off.

Although many of the songs on this EP feature ‘angry’ lyrics and brutal breakdowns, it has definitely been created in a more mature and skilful way; it’s hard to imagine hardcore dancing or people beating each other up in pits at a Prolong The Agony show. The lyrical content is actually very skilfully written and merges flawlessly with the melodic guitar riffs.

One of the stand-out tracks on All We Are is ‘Backstabbers’. It is anything other than a generic metalcore song, in fact it sounds much more like progressive hardcore. Larry’s powerful vocals contrast seamlessly with the ever-changing pace of the song, proving his versatility.

The raw energy and passion of Prolong The Agony is present in every single song on All We Are, making every song enjoyable to listen to. There are no boring or generic songs, meaning that you can listen to the entire EP without needing to skip a song. Unlike many bands in the metal scene at the moment Prolong The Agony do not need to use any gimmicks or frills, their music speaks for itself.

 

9.0/10

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JULIA CONOPO


Agnostic Front – The American Dream Died


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When a band has been going for over 30 years and people all over the world are eagerly awaiting their new album, it is safe to say that they are probably incredibly talented. Cue Hardcore legends Agnostic Front, who are releasing their eleventh studio album, aptly titled The American Dream Died (Nuclear Blast).

The longest song on the album is only two minutes and fifty-three seconds, with the shortest being just thirty-seven seconds. Despite this, each of the sixteen songs has been created with both passion and talent, giving you an insight into how Agnostic Front view the world (or more specifically, America).

The introduction track instantly proves that this isn’t going to be an album about sex or relationships, it’s about much more than that: freedom and equality. The hardcore guitar riffs merge with various speeches, allowing you to instantly understand how important this album is to Agnostic Front. It isn’t about money or fame; they just want to get their views heard.

Title track ‘The American Dream Died’ is fast-paced, angry and loud. Pure passion oozes out of every guitar riff and lyric, proving that Agnostic Front are one of the most powerful hardcore bands in the world. It’s hard to listen to this song without subconsciously thinking of what is happening around the world and forming an opinion on it, which means that this album is definitely doing something right.

‘Police Violence’ is one of the most exciting songs on the album due to its fast-paced nature and aggressive guitar riffs. Roger Mirets’ vocals are on top form as always, allowing you to fully absorb the lyrics and nature of the song.

Final song ‘Just Like Yesterday’ is a brilliant end to an exciting and emotion-filled album. The group vocals allow it to be one of the catchiest songs on the album, and yet again the lyrics are a stand out feature and extremely noteworthy.

If you are someone who does not like albums which make you think about how you are viewing the world then this album is not for you. However, if you enjoy listening to fast-paced songs filled with emotion and passion, then you should definitely give The American Dream Died a listen.

 

8.0/10

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JULIA CONOPO