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 Short Hardcore Reviews

Spirit Crusher

“Dream World”

(Triple B Records, 2023)

Back to Short Hardcore Reviews we are, peepz! And to restart it off we head on over to Germany to welcome Spirit Crusher’s newest release, “Dream World”, a 2-song EP, through the magnificent Triple B Records!

And what do we have here? Lads from today playing yesterday’s tunes. Amazing, in my book! NYHC inspired, with bits of Thrash – which makes sense when aligned with 90ies NYHC – and that manly Hardcore. Hard and punishing, going strong and heavy. Biohazard is in there as well, and that groove is bouncy as few!

Jump up and down and smack stuff!


Disposition

“Predisposed to Distrust”

(Independent, 2023)


I have been seeing, more and more, Hardcore bands adding Beatdown elements to their music. I tend to take a step back in these situations, as the fusion is rarely done properly, in my opinion. Nonetheless, I gave these lads from San Jose a chance, and their percentages of Hardcore and Beatdown are just right!

I love the drum sound they got on this! It sounds so raw and “unproduced/unprofessional” that almost makes me shed a tear of joy. I love Hardcore done that way: raw and hard. 4 tracks, all they need to present themselves and make themselves heard, and the drums keep on giving! Guitar riffs are packed with melody and power, and those tuned down moments are wow, really wow! 

Overall: mosh pit approved. Thank you.


Mark of Fatality

“Last Breath Under One Star”

(Surprise Attack Records, 2023)

Well, well, well. It is always interesting to find new sounds, new bands, artists that help keep music interesting by adding bits and pieces of themselves to an already existent basis. Evolving a sound is one thing, picking up on an existing structure, working it the same way many have done before, and still pulling out superb music is another thing.

According to the little I was able to find about the band, MOF is a recent act from Erie, Pennsylvania, that plays a Melodic Hardcore with some sporadic Metalcore details, very well-fused and balanced. Guitar riffs go from a standard Hardcore to a more, Heavy Metal sound, which is nice; basically, it gives it a lot more dynamics than what it would if they were to stick to the typical approach; well, I doubt they did it to “escape” the cliches or whatever, but rather because that is how the view the “construction” of a song. Take, for example, the moment that starts at 11:28, and goes all the way to 11:56. That is not Hardcore! That is almost Death Metal, and it fits perfectly!



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