Being very picky with hardcore music, I am very quick to pass up opportunities to listen to new hardcore music and just appreciate what I have in my library. Having said that, I am very fortunate to have been provided quite an addition with the latest album, Rust (Deathwish), by Chicago hardcore outfit, Harm’s Way. It does not take long for this album to ramp up and put you in a stranglehold. Whether the beat is punky, heavy, or just a crushing breakdown, these guys certainly bring to light what it is to be hardcore. Another aspect of the sound that makes up Harm’s Way is the guitar tone. I feel like the tone has that great crust feel to it without going so far as to turning into sludge. If that wasn’t going to sell this band’s sound to me, then looking at their Facebook page certainly did. In the about section, under “artists we also like,” only Nails is listed. It was like a match made in Hell!

The entire journey that is Rust clocks in at just over 33 minutes over the course of ten adrenaline injecting tracks. The overall flow of the album does not allow the listener to take many breaks as each track blends right into the next with minimal down time during intros. Another impressive trait for this release from Harm’s Way is that each track in the album has its own identity without repetitive riffs or even covered with the predictable breakdown. Due to this I could honestly speak about every track on Rust and explain how I felt the need to deconstruct each song. No need to fear as I like to keep my reviews quick rather open ended so it makes readers potentially go out and listen for themselves. What I can tell you is the moment the first track ‘Infestation’ starts its build up and gets moving, this avalanche of crusty hardcore does not stop until the 5th track, ‘Cancerous Ways.’ This track only gives you a slight break for air before leaping off the next cliff and drags you with it. Not to take away from the second half of the album, but the final two tracks back to back absolutely blew me away and end the album with an explanation point. ‘Turn To Stone’ builds up to an interlude with a female vocalist (which I cannot seem to place at time of writing this) pleading for help only to meet a grizzly breakdown. This then fades into the closer, ‘Ease My Mind’ which is the culmination of every previous track with catchy riffs, crusty guitar tones, some crafty foot work behind the drum set, and a groovy yet epic outro to what Harm’s Way calls Rust. Just as quickly as this album takes over your ears, it leaves you just as quickly in silence.

Harm’s Way has clearly done a great job of impressing me only after about a half hour of my time. Quite frankly, it only took a few songs in for me to headbang through highway traffic and actually say the word “Wow” at the end of some of the tracks. I will certainly be spinning these tracks for the rest of the year, as Rust battles to earn its keep in my end of the year list. In fact, I’m going to go hit play right now.

9.0/10

TIM LEDIN