New blood: Rhythm Of Fear

Stomping crossover from Florida for fans of classic sound along the lines of Born to Expire, Ride The Lighting, Victim in Pain or Life of Dreams. Their Mass Illusion EP is a feast for both hardcore kids and metal dudes I cannot pinpoint anything that is wrong with it, an essential listening if you're want to give new band a chance. Head to their bandcamp if you don't take my word for it, and let the band do the talking now...

Give us an introduction of Rhythm Of Fear. What was happening with the band between 2011 Demo and Mass Illusion?
The Mass Illusion EP is actually 4 songs from our full length record entitled "Maze Of Confusion", which should be released sometime in early 2016. We started recording the full length record in mid 2014 with our good friend Bob Presson who has played in many bands such as: Kids Like Us, Boys No Good and is now a tattoo artist at Shrunken Head Tattoo in Jacksonville, FL. While the tracks where still in the process of mixing and mastering, we we're approached by a guy by the name of John Howard who really wanted to record a Thrash Metal band. So we decided to just start over with John. After mastering the first 4 tracks, we released them as Mass Illusion EP in January 2015. Our demo was recorded by Bob Presson and after it's release we decided to take our time and write as much material we can and pass out as many demos at other shows we weren't playing and try to promote the band around Florida. This is why we had such a long gap between releases.

How do you feel musically you’ve progressed over the course of these two releases?
We have all progressed tremendously since we started in 2010. Looking back at our shows in early 2011-2013 we we're a little sloppy on stage. We didn't rehearse as much as we should have before shows. Now we practice several times a week and are constantly correcting each other to make sure we make fewer mistakes as possible. Also our musical influences have molded us to be a better band I feel. Always pushing ourselves to strive to be more "professional".

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Download: Cross Me - Demo 2013

Milwaukee's Cross Me brings thrash-ridden type of hardcore with solid grooves and manacing riffs. I’m getting some Expire meets Suicidal Tendencies sound on these tracks. Serious business and no frills. The vocals are seriously pissed off and sound like the guys wants fuck someone up good. Expect to hear news of them signing to one of your favorite hardcore labels sometime soon. Download it!

New Blood: Hollow Truth

Hollow Truth from Dublin brings all the good elements of thrash and hardcore, which results in nothing but a crushing crossover sound that brings to mind a mix of Cro-Mags and Metallica. I have recently posted their demo and judging by the number of downloads, kids dig this stuff. So, check out the interview with the dudes while listening to the demo. And if they’re ever playing show in your area, make sure you show your support!

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Evil Ways - Self Titled

Evil Ways from Los Angeles, Cali delivers pure mayhem with their debut s/t release. Straight up crossover music which takes cues from the best in hardcore and thrash, it delivers the vitality of core and menace of metal. The vocals are forceful and music is dlivered with enough power to bend a steel bar in a second. I like the fact that they pay respect to the classics, but keep their sound up to date and fresh. Definitely one of those bands everyone into proper hardcore should check out! Download it!

Rise From Above - Phoenix

The album starts with a solid, groove driven passage which immediately brings to mind my favorite hardcore albums when I was a kid. The music has this classic feel to it reminiscent of old crossover records like for example Cause For Alarm by Agnostic Front. But it’s also not only about the past, the music has been updated so to stay in line with what currently make hardcore kids go crazy. I guess the Wolf City or Lionheart merch they’re wearing on the inlay photos gives you some kind of hint what their influences are. I never heard the split with Stay Cold so I cannot say if the band progressed or not, but this CD is very good. For the most part Rise From Above knows what to play and how to play it. The riffs are good, the songs are skillfully put together and the vocals do the job as well. The songs are mostly fast, but there’s some room for slower, groovier parts as well. The vocals are strong and spit out lyrics full of anger and conviction. There's good vibe and energy in what the band is doing, but they could put more variation in it to make it a bit more interesting. Nonetheless, if you’re out for tight and in your face hardcore delivery, there’s no reason to complain. I actually enjoy these songs more than some of the albums by the bands that are being heavily hyped on the scene nowadays.

Review by Dloogi
Label: District 763
Year: 2011
Band's website

Hobson's Choice - Indivisible

New Hobson's Choice (Bosna Herzegovina) output brings hard and heavy hitting hardcore with dual vocals and tough as nails riffs. The music is not your average beatdown, NYHC or deathcore shit. They take a lot from classic thrash or even some old school death metal sound and blend it with 90' hardcore influences (there's also cover of Reflections by Trial here!). Invisible is pretty much solid offering after all. It's not gonna be a classic, but doesn't disappoint as well. If you're in a mood for some metallic hardcore that's not that ground breaking, but at the same different than a lot of stuff you here nowadays, Indivisible might be a good choice. Download it!

Biohazard: new album with original line-up

The original line-up of one of the most influential hardcore punk metal bands, Biohazard, is gearing up to release their first album together in sixteen years. The as yet untitled album will be released in Spring 2011 via a new partnership with Nuclear Blast Records for the world outside of North America.

Jaap Wagemaker, A&R for the label says, "We at Nuclear Blast have been longtime fans since we first saw Biohazard on tour with WARGASM and at the legendary Dynamo Open Air where they played no less than four times! Judging by the sheer power, enthusiasm and pleasure that I have seen them unleash live by playing their classics, the new album promises nothing less than another milestone in their career."

Formed in the late eighties in Brooklyn, New York, the foursome achieved national and worldwide success with their albums Urban Discipline on Roadrunner Records in 1992 and 1994's State of the World Address on Warner Brothers. Both albums sold over 1,000,000 copies each. Founding members Billy Graziadei, Bobby Hambel, Danny Schuler and Evan Seinfeld are currently in the studio with legendary producer Toby Wright (Alice In Chains, Metallica, Korn).

Drummer Danny Schuler says, "Finally, we are in the studio recording our first record together with the original line-up since 1994! 16 years! Feels like a lifetime since we last did this together, and the experience has been amazing. We've recorded over an hour of music, and we are extremely excited and grateful to be able to share it all with you."

Bassist Seinfeld says the new album promises "bone crushing riffs fused with dark melodies and uncompromising lyrics rapped at you like only Biohazard can deliver… the danger is back."

Toby Wright adds, "This is the BEST hardcore band in the world, and this is going to be a kickass record that proves that is a fact." The album is slated for a Spring 2011 release.

Source: Official press release

Alpha & Omega - Life Swallower

The band has been getting better with every album they have released and this one is another step in the right direction. With Life Swallower, Alpha & Omega brings to the table one of the more violent albums I’ve heard in a long time.

One song in and you know you’re listening to one tough son of a bitch album. Fueled By Sin is a strong opening to the album combining the best elements of hardcore and metal. And when the next tracks kick in, things only get better. Throughout the album, Alpha & Omega keep their sound focused on slick, thrash inspired riffs while the rhythm section lays down a tight groove that is marks up the music’s rhythm to perfection. The band gets the job done with beefy chords to groovy passages, which results in brutal songs of crushing metallic that never goes down in intensity. Life Swallower offers plenty of anger and rage, but at the same time they keep the right balance and deliver plenty of leads and hooks to get your teeth into. It helps to keep things interesting and give their music more depth without sacrificing the rough edge that makes Alpha & Omega's music work. An element of nostalgia for the 80’ crossover sound can be heard throughout the album with the strong nod towards Cro-Mags in their prime. They also make me think of Steel Nation and Bitter End in regards to the intensity those bands deliver. The vocals of Luis are very intense and lyrically, it’s straight up hostile, dark and negative.

If I had to pick my favorite tracks from Life Swallower I would say that tracks Searching or Stand Alone show how it should be done. Both of these tracks come with slick, memorable riffs and massive chorus that will stick in your head for days.

Listening to this album it comes as no surprise that band has been creating a bit of a name for themselves recently. 2010 is definitely a good year for hardcore with solid albums from bands like Terror, Sick Of It All, Madball, Bitter End or All Out War. And even with such a strong competition, I still consider Life Swallower as one of the most interesting albums that came out this year.


Review by Dloogi
Label: 6131 Records
Year: 2010
Band's website