Against the Grain/Fraction Zero
War Stories (Split)
6
Courtesy of Faction Zero Recordings comes this split CD of two New York/New Jersey bands that represent a total throwback to the old New York hardcore sound. First up is Against the Grain, who are effectively a tribute band to the greats such as Agnostic Front, Sick of it All, and especially Madball. By saying this, I’m implying that they break no new ground whatsoever, while still playing adequate NYHC. What they do best is evoke memories of great Madball shows from way back in the day, by bringing that same amped-up punk-derived riffage, and with vocals that sound so much like Freddy (again, Madball) that I did a double-take upon first listen. And in true NYHC fashion, all six songs manage to fly by in under 10 minutes.
The first song, “Play Dead” is actually an instrumental – nothing transcendent, but adequate. “Give Me Your Drug Money” introduces the gang chorus and bass break. “Cut Short” is more like straight-up punk, or even rock. This is caused by the slower pace and sing-along choruses. You do the math. Lastly, “Fuck the Middle East/Let’s Bomb” gets right down to business, in all of 43 seconds.
Faction Zero is slightly more modern-sounding than Against the Grain. Their sound is still dated, but slightly more relevant than their split-mates. Their singer has a little bit of Max Cavalera in his voice when he’s fired up. This combined with their heavier riffs and accompanying mix (all within the same general style), make Faction Zero the superior band on this split. “Self Fulfilling Prophecy” is a surprisingly excellent track, one that if it were written 8 years ago, people would probably credit for influencing Hatebreed. “The Burning” has a few good riffs sprinkled around in an otherwise shaky song. “Image of God” steps up the crunch, a song which might appeal to the crowd that really loved Sepultura’s Roots. They contribute seven songs, averaging an exhaustive two minutes of length.
Does this split by Against the Grain and Faction Zero bring anything new or important to the table? No. But, if you’ve exhausted all of the NYHC classics and are still clamoring for more, this split would fit nicely.
