Dagger Threat released second full length album and they just continue with brutality and carnage where the predecessor stopped. That means these intro Prologue and ten songs punch you in the gut with a mixture of metallic hardcore that we used to call new school back in the nineties and more modern beatdown hardcore with sharp precise guitar riffs, moshing parts and beatdown stop and go drums, topped with brutal vocals screamed at the top of the lungs plus some more gang backing vocals with might and energy reverberating throughout the album as a whole. Usually I am not so avid keen fan of such hardcore, being more of a old school asshole but when it also incorporates some clean sung melodic parts like in one of my favorites Wither, also Faint. I love that mixture of brutality and melody and it works fine for me. Lyrics are more personal and help you deal with your own demons, at least they did that way for me. This is a fine brutality lesson, so go for it!
I first discovered Downset back in the early nineties, I think it was 1994 or so. I loved(still do) Biohazard back then and they went on to have a big European tour with Downset and Dog Eat Dog and that is how I discovered those two bands, I thought to myself if Biohazard brings these guys on tour, they must be great. Then I saw a video for Anger on Headbanger’s Ball and was instantly hooked on this Los Angeles hardcore with some rap street smart band. Then I also discovered Social Justice which was pre Downset band in which Ray Oropeza sang and love it. Many decades passed and I know that there was some bad blood between some of the members and kinda two Downset bands at one time, but I love this one with Ray Oropeza delivering his trademark angry mixture of hardcore shouting and rapping. Songs on this one are even more hardcore and less rap influenced in most of the record and lyrically kinda reflect on state of the things today, brining me back to the times when smell of concrete, rain on warm Summer night on concrete, starry nights and stinking streets were my everything. This is a great record and I enjoyed every single minute. Would love to witness Downset gig again any time soon. My personal favorites are Blackest of Days, Won´t Forget and Positive Mind.
For Different Ways are hailing from South Sardinia, Italy. These guys are playing hardcore and this is their brand new e.p. containing four songs. Music of For Different Ways can be described as hardcore but not that death metal that is nowadays considered hardcore, but hardcore with that good old school vibe leaning more on streetcore and street punk than on metal, although there is some metal influences in guitar work on this e.p. I also love that there is a lot of melody besides all of the hardcore harshness and that is what makes this little e.p. so special. There is a lot of melody to sing along to, gang backing vocals and energy that reminds you and makes you happy to belong to hardcore scene. My personal favorites are A True Story That Belongs To Us and Backbone featuring guest performance by Alex Blasi from Strength Approach, another Italian hardcore heroes. This is a great e.p. Cant wait to hear more stuff.
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 