On heavy rotation this week...

Life After Death - Scum of Society Forever
Buy it HERE.

The band actually put out this album in 2012, but although being much into their recent ep I never really had a chance to pay this one the attention it deserves. Turns out I was really missing out, cause this is first rate beatdown hardcore with tons of that sweet 90' sound. The vocals are sick, the songs are packed with hooks and twists, and the execution is flawless.

Take Offense - United States Of Mind
Buy it HERE.

Take Offense is back on the scene with this highly anticipated album. This is a killer record that perfectly blends in-your-face hardcore with creative song writing and superb musicianship. The vocals go from hard to melodic and definitely are one of the highlights here. Through I feel their previous ep had more stand out tracks, this is still good listen from start to finish.

Paura / Clearview - Rage Through Integrity (Split)
Buy it HERE.

Clearview plays raging hardcore that sounds like combination of the best elements of Madball, Terror and One Life Crew. The tracks go from fast to groovy, but they all bang and there's a serious sense of purpose in each of them. Paura's side of the split is kind of heavier and slower, not as good as Clearview but still decent.

Take Offense drops new song from United States Of Mind

Check out new track from Take Offense - it's called Place Your Bet and can be heard here. The song is a banger, can't wait to hear the whole LP. Reaper has already started pre-orders for the album. Click here to get yours.

Take Offense announces 'The United States of Mind' LP

Tale Offense has announced new album! Here's what the band got to say about it: It's 2013 and we can't wait for what this year holds. MARCH, we will be hitting the studio in LA to record our second full length album titled "The United States of Mind." We plan to have it out in the heat of summer on no other label but REAPER RECORDS. We will be working with our dude Nick Jett (Terror) once again so you can expect some wild stuff! MAY, we will be hitting the road, doing a full US with our brothers in DOWNPRESSER. Dates, cities and all that info to come, stay tuned. The rest of our year is being planned as I relay this.

Take Offense - T.O. Zone

Official video. Chula Vista hardcore!

Pre-order for the upcoming Take Offense EP are up at Reaper Records

Reaper has launched pre-orders for the new Take Offense four song 12″ EP “Under The Same Shadow." The EP is to be released in three color options: clean, black and gold vinyl. T-shirt plus vinyl packages are also available. Listen to the title track here.

Take Offense - Tables Will Turn

Here's some NYHC worship. A definite '90s Crossover feel - but more AF than Ludichrist. Leeway, Cro-Mags and Crumbsuckers nods. Then you get the '85 - '87 Suicidal Tendencies feel - direct emulation of M Muir's crooning and all. There is a SubZero influence; and the riff writing comes in straight off of an Inhuman Best "of...". So here is a band that loves its NYC Crossover. You can bang your head, you can mosh to it. All bases are covered.

All that said - you can think contemporary bands as well; Naysayer, Rival Mob, Trapped Under Ice, Alpha & Omega, Bitter End, Mind Eraser, etc. So the stomp is there. Big riffs to plod along to and a few straight ahead parts, but not two-step here *(short of a small bit in "Beware the Path" and "Can I Do It?") - fast parts are for circle pits abound! They can write a gang vocal cheer like their peers, so the kids will have a chance to finger point. But the focus is the gee-tar - with dive bomb squeals and lots of scrambling leads.

HIGHLIGHTS:
"In the Face of Disaster"
"Hand of Time" - especially with its breakdown. This is destined to be a classic.
"Beware the Path" - strongest song
"What Goes Around" Anthrax intro and all! Super tight riffing into big chords to chug to - then a solo.

FOR FANS OF:
Late '80s Crossover NYHC.
2010 American Hardcore bands that worship Late '80s Crossover NYHC.
Inhuman
Suicidal Tendencies (he sounds exactly like Cyco Myko - this is the album from 1987 that ST should have made to garner maintain HC kids' respect!)

BOTTOM LINE:
If Mike Muir sang for Inhuman.

Review by Hutch (Empty Hands blog)
Label: Reaper Records
Year: 2010
Band's website