Endless
Decade Of Obscurity
7
Pure hardcore. Make no mistake, this retrospective EP is not metalcore, or even a crossover. It's hardcore in the classic sense, and that makes it OK in my book, but I can't make it metal. So take that well into account as you read this review. No shredding, no blasting, no hooky riffage. Just chunky three chord fuck you.
Which also kind of fucks with the whole format here, the musicianship, songwriting and production bit. Hardcore songwriting is about the moment, not structure, not composition. It's a simple and deadly form of music. It has obvious themes and obvious intentions, and none are to impress. They are to slap people who bitch about things that don't matter, people who pine for things unattainable, instead of working on what they can do and have; what actually matters.
But I will give it a bash: Musicianship = adequate, not sloppy, very northeast in the great late eighties tradition. Production = no frills, quality presentation and professional. But with all energy intact. Songwriting = to the point. You get crushing chords and driving tempos combined with passionate screaming. It makes me want to go to a show at the Speedway (fuck the whole world that it's not there anymore) and spend three hours pitting to a five band bill. And there is a pretty nice version of Suicidal Tendencies' "Subliminal" to top off the studio tracks.
The CD closes with two live numbers, which are recorded much less clearly...in fact they sound like boombox tapes. Mostly you get singer and drummer. And these live numbers are closer to modern metalcore styled writing, which serves mainly to make them less memorable in the overall scheme of things. But it's a matter of degrees.
Bottom Line: When I collected HC tapes and records I would have eaten this shit up. It's quality northeastern hardcore, at least the studio tracks. It's only 21 minutes so it doesn't have a chance to get old. And it has some nostalgia factor for yours truly. If you are a fan of the salad days (teehee) you might dig this, but for the average metalhead it may be too core for its own good. Whatever, I will keep it around.
