PIT TALK

The
Hardcore Bible
PREACHING THE BEST IN HARDCORE
OEAN ATE ALASKA - LOST ISLES
RELEASED - 23 FEBRUARY
LABEL - FEARLESS RECORDS
[8/10]
AN AUTHORITATIVE RELEASE,
PUSHING THEM TO THE
FOREFRONT OF THE MELODIC
HARDCORE SCENE
With a band name that sounds eerily similar to
that of a John Green novel, there was a worry Oceans
Ate Alaska’s sound would mirror that of the uninspired
writings of Green, and would be nothing more than
dull. However the group have proved that a good band
name is not always essential to success, or a measure
of talent, and sometimes it’s best to let the music speak
for itself.
The Birmingham outfit’s debut album Lost Isles is a
ferocious and damning release, spanning 45 minutes of
sonic and masterful melodic hardcore. Reminiscent of
early Bring Me The Horizon, Lost Isles is a platform for
the five-piece to show off their technical skill. Vocalist
James Harrison’s blend of screams and clean vocals
throughout, works wonders with the weighty breakdowns
and dominant drums.
Downsides and Floorboards are a welcome change
of pace within the otherwise breakdown heavy set of
tracks, offering up a melodic chorus and poignant vocals
that shows off the range of frontman James. Tracks Part
Of Something, High Horse and Lost Isles are a punch to
the face; kick you in the balls type of aggression.
It’s bold and confident within itself and that shines
throughout, with the skill of each member taking centre
stage. There’s no gimmicks, no bullshit, just a young
band with bags of talent and a clear direction they’ve
mastered. The high levels of production in Lost Isles
results in perfectly polished set of songs but still having
a roughness to it that embodies the gritty nature of the
hardcore scene.
There’s layers to Oceans Ate Alaska with the mix
of heavy and compelling arrangements, with strokes
of atmospheric and melodic elements that effectively
merge together. Lost Isles is an impressive metalcore
debut that covers a range of angles that packs enough
punch to go around.
44 PIT TALK
Chloe Painter
WHILE SHE SLEEPS
RELEASED - 23 MARCH
LABEL - SEARCH AND DESTROY
[8/10]
SHEFFIELD HARDCORE HEAVYWEIGHTS
SET THE BAR WITH SOPHOMORE EFFORT
For a brief period last year, the future of While She
Sleeps seemed uncertain. The rise of the Sheffield
based hardcore mob saw them smash their way
into the rock mainstream after years of grinding
it out in the underground. However this came to
a screeching halt following the throat surgery of
vocalist Loz Taylor in late 2013.
By June however, the group were back and
showed no signs of being phased. A triumphant
set at Download Festival showed that they
were still a force to be reckoned with give.
Brainwashed, the sophomore studio effort by
the band, proves that they still remember how to
write decent songs.
“We are the underground/You know nothing
of us,” Taylor roars to open first track New
World Torture. Ironic then, that Brainwashed is
infinitely more accessible than their debut This
is the Six. The record loses the rough and ready
production of its predecessor, replacing it with a
crisper and cleaner sound, and the actual song
writing seems far more varied this time round.
In terms of sound and structure,
Brainwashed showcases two very different
extremes. The startlingly heavy Your Evolution
is a reminder that Sleeps can still be as heavy
as they were during the North Stands for
Nothing Era. Whereas No Sides No Enemies
is an almost hauntingly melodic radio friendly
track.
Brainwashed doesn’t set fire to the While She
Sleeps rulebook. The trademark gang vocals
are present as is the buzzing guitar tone of Sean
Long and Mat Welsh (Even if the solo on Our
Legacy does temporarily divert away from it).
This is not a band who have abandoned their
sound, but simply evolved alongside it. They’re
already headlining tents at festivals, but on the
back of this album they’ll only creep higher.
Another couple of albums filled with material like
this and they might just be able to hit Wembley.
Alex Macrow
FATHOMS- ‘LIVES LIVED’
RELEASED - 2 MARCH
LABEL - GHOST MUSIC - ARTERY RECORDS
[7/10]
BRIGHTON FIVE PIECE CREATES A
FAST AND EPIC DEBUT
Brighton may be known for sticks of rock and
it’s infamous pier, but the sea side town is also
a Mecca for good music. Five-piece hardcore
outfit Fathoms are the newest group to stem
from the town with the release of debut full
length album Lives Lived.
Fathoms file their sound under ‘hategroove’
so it was always unlikely they would serve up
anything other than in your face, guitar heavy
noise, and that is exactly what Lives Lived
dishes up. The debut is 37 minutes of pure
weighty hardcore, the emotional songs matched
up with raw and coarse vocals. Explosive drums
backdrop each song, adding force and power to
already strong and aggressive tracks.
Album opener Hate Resonates plays as a
short introductory track that flows seamlessly
into second track Graveyards: an intense 3
minute strain packed with roaring riffs and
choppy, low growling vocals. The Weight
of The World and Deathwish offer up some
drum heavy and hard-hitting moments on
the album. Lead single Hell is a distinct
highlight, displaying a cleaner sound while
simultaneously embodying the fast paced,
aggressive and gritty feel that holds the album
together.
While some say you can never have too
much of a good thing, the one downfall with
Lives Lived is too much of the same thing.
Some tracks feel too samey, with nothing
to set them apart from each other, however
Fathoms have clearly found a formula they’re
comfortable with, and as a young band have
room for experimenting in their career. Lives
Lived is a strong, coherent debut from a
youthful group with a promising future.
Chloe Painter
DEAD TIRED
RELEASED - 17 MARCH
LABEL - NEW DAMAGE RECORDS
[8/10]
POST-HARDCORE ICON RETURNS TO
THE FRAY, AND HE’S OUT FOR BLOOD
Alexisonfire clearly had the Midas Touch. Not only did
every album released under the moniker serve as a
template for how forward thinking melodic hardcore
should be done, but everything released by the
members since the sad dissolution of the band has been
pure gold.
Whilst Dallas Green has gone on to enjoy a career
performing acoustically as City & Colour and Wade
MacNeil has done the unthinkable and successfully
replace Frank Carter as the frontman of Gallows, all has
been quiet on the side of George Pettit.
Arriving with very little fanfare, Dead Tired marks his
return to the music scene. The third and arguably heaviest
component of Alexisonfire’s iconic vocal delivery returns
with a record that follows this pattern. Heavier than City &
Colour and Gallows by a country mile, Dead Tired is a short,
sharp and ferocious beast, taking the extremes of Pettit’s
former bands and amplifying them.
With 11 of the 12 songs on offer clocking in at under
three minutes, the group are clearly not pulling any
punches. Grungy sounding productions merged with the
fuzzy guitar tones are clearly reminiscent of early punk
bands such as Fear; bands to whom the hardcore scene
already owes a great debt.
Retaining the iconic raspy tone adds a certain edge
and air of familiarity to the songs, although his voice
now seems to have a far stronger sense of urgency.
Of course, given the style that this band plays, some of
the songs begin to sound remarkably similar. It starts to
sound like they might be running out of ideas towards
the end of the album, but at just 24 minutes in length
you’re unlikely to get bored too quickly.
Are there breakdowns? No. If that’s the kind of hardcore
that you’re looking for, Dead Tired will leave you sorely
disappointed. Rather than following the formula for a
successful modern hardcore band, Pettit and company
offer pure, undiluted fury and attitude. Old school
hardcore done by an expert.
Alex Macrow
STICK TO YOUR GUNS -
DISOBEDIENT
RELEASED - 9 FEBRUARY
LABEL - SUMERIAN RECORDS
[8/10]
AN ADVERTISEMENT FOR WHAT
STICK TO YOUR GUNS REPRESENT
I’m somewhat impressed with Stick To Your Guns
fifth studio album Disobedient. This Orange County
melodic-hardcore band has always been pretty
consistent with their albums, and this time they bring out
something that is back-to-back bangers, yet still giving
us more close to your heart, powerful melodies.
The whole album is a modern throwback, especially
with songs like RMA (Revolutionary Mental Attitude),
which is not only under two minutes but also a retake
on the Bad Brains’ slogan of PMA (“Positive Mental
Attitude”), showing that the modern day hardcore scene
can still live up to some of the best hardcore bands of
the 80s.
The Crown stands out for me because it brings out
a more personal vibe; the vulnerable and heartfelt lyrics
show a softer side to the band. However, the album
still has formulaic breakdowns, explosive riffs and Jesse
Barnett’s vocals once again are clean and scream out the
truth.
Stick To Your Guns already has a solid reputation
in the hardcore scene, especially after their last album
Diamond taking off and I honestly think this album is
keeping them high up in the hardcore ranking. With so
much tension and aggression reflecting in this album,
every song fitting perfectly together like a pack of
biscuits, Stick To Your Guns prove that there is much
more to them than just a loud, in your face band.
The War Inside has breakdowns that are on edge
of being cringey, but they just about get away with it.
With lyrics like ‘Use the pain/let it be the force/ that
drives you/every day’, this band will always be one for
preaching for what is best. The guitars, bass and drums
all contain high energy that will ensure let you keep still
when you listen to it.
Disobedient is definitely a rights of the people
album, with hard-hitting tracks that stand for something
and that people can connect to facing real issues.
Overall it is another showcase of Stick To Your Guns’
sheer talent, producing a solid album that is a form of
expression and self-realisation.
Sabrina Shales
PIT TALK 45