punk

(7/10) Settle Your Scores is a rather new band, still having a four year history. The guys started in 2014 and it was in 2016 when the debut saw the light of day. The Ohio-based band promoted the album by frequently touring across the US before the entered the studio again with some new material in their backpack.

“Better Luck Tomorrow” is the title of the sophomore longplayer, a record that includes 38 minutes of dynamic sounds that are split in 12 songs. Settle Your Scores is basically American punk rock that makes you think of bands like Green Day and Blini 182 The five-piece from Cincinnati, Ohio is in favor of straight-forward music that includes a solid portion of melodies. You could almost add ‘pop’ to the mix. The combination of elements is proven to be successful, but isn’t new either. In order to space-up things the quintet adds some metalcore screams to their music. These add a new dynamic to “Better Luck Tomorrow”, which certainly a good thing and needed too. What’s confusing though is the catchiness of pop-punk melodies next to the harsh shouts. I couldn’t get rid of the feeling listening to a band that is in transition; looking for an own musical identity.

With all the passion and sprit of the five guys, what’s missing with Settle Your Scores’ new longplayer are the real wow-moments. The album sounds good but not unique. There is quite some of this kind of music available and after a while I also could deny a feeling of the record becoming lengthy.

Good spirit, good vibe, too predictable and too little exciting.

(7/10)

Tracklist:

1. On the Count of Three
2. Zero Hour
3. Growing Pains – Throwing Blame
4. Dead Man Stalking
5. Keep Your Chin Up and Your Expectations Down
6. Stuck in the Suburbs
7. Rise Fall
8. Off / On
9. No Ragrets
10. Your Teeth vs. the Pavement
11. Valar Morghulis
12. My Reason to Come Back Home

Label: SharpTone Records

Genre: American Punk Rock

Release Date EU: April 13^th, 2018

(9/10) California-based Pennywise belong to the spearhead of American punk rock. The band has its roots back in 1988 and it’s the evil clown in Stephen King’s novel that acted as an inspiration for the naming this punk rock powerhouse.

Pennywise had always the benefit of a pretty stable line-up with one basic exception. It was in 2009 when singer Jim Lindberg left the band. He was preplaced by Zoli Teglas and it was the year 2012, which was another turning point. Teglas, suffering from an injured back, had to stop with Pennywise and it was Lindberg who rejoined the quartet from The Golden State.

“Yesterdays”, the 2014 release, was the first album with the rejoined frontman doing the vocal parts and it's the new longplayer that stands for the first full-length Pennywise album in then years with Lindberg, comprising of new songs from beginning to end.

Pennywise recorded fourteen new tunes that made it on the tracklist of “Never Gonna Die”. The record provides listeners with nearly 40 minutes of exquisite punk rock as it’s known from the four-piece band form California. Each of the 14 fast-past anthems just needs one spin to unveil its entire power. “Never Gonna Die” features the typical Pennywise trademarks, combining dynamic guitar power, a merciless pushing rhythm section and excellent vocals to a great totality. As being used from punk rock there is no way to stand still while listening to these 40 minutes of well-crafted songs.

Next to the terrific tunes it’s the lyrics that are more than a necessary ‘must have’. Hailing from California means the band being rooted in a cultural epicenter that covers everything from silent film to metal and punk. Over three decades Pennywise made clear that they have the ‘Cali-vibe’ in their gens. As it was with earlier releases like “Fuck Authority” also the new album is full of statements when it comes of the current state of the Blue Planet.  Songs like “American Lies” and “We Set Fire Tonight” are addressing topics like disinformation and the denial of basic social services. Next to this very clear positioning it’s songs such as “Live While You Can (Time Bomb)” that also include a positive view on life and never letting other get you down.

“Never Gonna Die” became a fulminate return album of Pennywise new/old frontman Jim Lindberg, who crafted, together with his band mates Fletcher Dragge, Byron McMackin and Randy Bradbury, an album that is as good as important in 2018. Punk rock and its vibe is alive, maybe even more than it was over the last decades.

(9/10)

Tracklist:

1. Never Gonna Die
2. American Lies
3. Keep Moving On
4. Live While You Can
5. We Set Fire
6. She Said
7. Can’t Be Ignored
8. Goodbye Bad Times
9. A Little Hope
10. Won’t Give Up the Fight
11. Can’t Save You Now
12. All the Ways U Can Die
13. Listen
14. Something Now

Label: Epitaph

Genre: Punk Rock

Release Date EU: April 20^th, 2018

(9/10) Septic Tank is a band, hailing from the UK that has its roots in the early 90. It was in 1994 when Septic Tank began as an outlet for members of doom metal veterans Cathedral, following their passion for hardcore and punk. No less than Cathedral vocalist Lee Dorrian as well as Gaz Jennings, bass player Scott Carlson (Repulsion) and drummer Barry Stern (ex-Trouble) started the band with some jams on a few occasions.

After having been in a state of hibernation for two decades Septic Tank is back, this time with a record in their backpack. The debut "Rotten Civilisation" is following a first EP, entitled "Septic Tank", which was released in 2013 only in Japan and with a limited number of pieces.

After five more years it was the final concert of Black Sabbath in Birmingham that brought together Lee Dorian and Scott Carlson. A few songs were already drafted but not reheased while new songs have been added to the mix in no time while the guys met.

The result of all the wait and work is a raging hardcore, punk, thrash metal record. It's almost impossible to describe the sound since it's built on so many influences. Motörhead's sound is one source of inspiration while some doomy Celtic Frost moments add another shade to the mix. Next to these to creative influencers it's punk music that gives Septic Tank a rock solid base, a sound that's inspired by bands like G.I.S.M..

"Rotten Civilisation" is an album that lives by its dynamic and aggressive. It transports a pissed-off vibe that was obviously present when the guys wrote the songs and produced the album. There are no frills added at all. What you get as a listener is the pure essence of furious emotions, captured and embedded in each of the 18 songs. The joy with this record is the spontaneity. Nothing sounds planned again and again and again. All the songs are emotions and notes are just a helpful tool to express an angry vibe that's built on today's reality.

Septic Tank's debut is an extremely authentic and powerful album that impressed me from beginning to end.

(9/10)

Tracklist:

1. Septic Tank
2. Who
3. Victimised
4. Social Media Whore
5. Divide and Conk Out
6. Treasures of Disease
7. Fucked
8. Whitewash
9. Death Vase
10. You Want Some
11. Digging Your Own Grave
12. Danger Signs
13. Walking Asylum
14. Lost Humanity
15. Never Never Land
16. Self-Obsessed
17. Living Death
18. Rotten Empire

Label: Rise Above Records

Genre: Crustcore

Release Date EU: April 13th, 2018

(*/10) Grindcore pioneers Napalm Death released 15 full-length records, spread over three decades. The awesome "Apex Predator - Easy Meat", released in 2015, was the latest one to date and it has been a lot of singles and some split releases that also enriched the discography of this timeless extreme metal powerhouse. Furthermore there are quite some bonus tracks that found their way on Japan-only releases, and so on.

"Coded Smears and More Uncommon Slurs" is a compilation that summarises a lot of this extra material and bundles it on this double CD release. The album covers the Century Media days up-to-date which means in other words, the time span between 2004 and 2016. In total there are 31 extreme metal songs that ended up on the tracklist, providing 90 minutes of grindcore and hardcore that doesn't compromise on anything.

"Coded Smears and More Uncommon Slurs" helps a lot to complete individual Napalm Death record collections, providing rarities that might caused a gap so far.

(*/10) 

Tracklist:

CD1:

1. Standardization (02:46) -> LP-only bonus track from ‘Utilitarian’ album sessions 2011.

2. Oh So Pseudo (02:36) -> Bonus track from ‘Apex Predator – Easy Meat’ album sessions 2014.

3. It Failed To Explode (03:38) -> Japan-only bonus track from ‘Utilitarian’ album sessions 2011.

4. Losers (04:22) -> Bonus track from ‘The Code Is Red...Long Live The Code’’ album sessions 2004.

5. Call That An Option? (03:03) -> Bonus track from ‘Smear Campaign’ album sessions 2006.

6. Caste As Waste (03:06) -> Japan-only bonus track from ‘Apex Predator – Easy Meat’ album sessions 2014.

7. We Hunt In Packs (03:49) -> Japan-only bonus track from ‘Time Waits For No Slave’ album sessions 2008.

8. Oxygen Of Duplicity (03:30) -> From Melvins Split EP, recorded 2013.

9. Paracide (01:39) -> Gepopel cover / Japan-only bonus track from ‘Apex Predator – Easy Meat’ album sessions 2014.

10. Critical Gluttonous Mass (02:26) -> Bonus track from ‘Apex Predator – Easy Meat’ album sessions 2014.

11. Aim Without An Aim (03:05) -> Bonus track from ‘Utilitarian’ album sessions 2011.

12. An Extract (Strip It Clean) (03:12) -> From Split EP with Heaven Shall Burn, recorded 2014.13. Phonetics For The Stupefied (03:29) -> From Split EP with Voivod, recorded 2014.

14. Suppressed Hunger (03:09) -> Bonus track from ‘Time Waits For No Slave’ album sessions 2008.

15. To Go Off And Things (02:29) -> Cardiacs cover / From Split EP with Melvins, recorded 2013.

CD2:

1. Clouds of Cancer / Victims Of Ignorance (02:06) -> G-ANX cover / Bonus track from ‘Apex Predator – Easy Meat’ album sessions 2014.

2. What Is Past Is Prologue (02:57) -> Bonus track from ‘Apex Predator – Easy Meat’ album sessions 2014.

3. Like Piss To A Sting (01:31) -> From Split EP with Melt Banana, recorded 2014.

4. Where The Barren Is Fertile (02:22) -> From Split EP with Melt Banana, recorded 2014.

5. Crash The Pose (01:33) -> Gauze cover / Japan-only bonus track from ‘The Code Is Red...Long Live The Code’’ album sessions 2004.

6. Earthwire (02:55) -> Download only as DZI Foundation benefit following the 2015 Nepal earthquake, recorded 2014.

7. Will By Mouth (01:25) -> From Split EP with Converge, recorded 2012.

8. Everything In Mono (02:48) -> Bonus track from ‘Utilitarian’ album sessions 2011.

9. Omnipresent Knife In Your Back (05:15) -> Bonus track from ‘Time Waits For No Slave’ album sessions 2008.

10. Lifeline (03:18) -> Sacrilege cover / From ‘Respect Your Roots Worldwide’ compilation, recorded 2011.

11. Youth Offender (02:07) -> B-Side from ‘Analysis Paralysis’ EP; recorded 2011.

12. No Impediment To Triumph (Bhopal) (03:02) -> From Split EP with Converge, recorded 2012.

13. Legacy Was Yesterday (02:15) -> From Decibel magazine Flexi EP, recorded 2010.

14. Outconditioned (02:25) -> Despair cover / From ‘Covering 20 Years Of Extremes’ compilation, recorded 2008.

15. Atheist Runt (06:07) -> Bonus track from ‘Smear Campaign’ album sessions 2006.

16. Weltschmerz (Extended Apocalyptic Version) (04:05) -> Bonus track from ‘Smear Campaign’ album sessions 2006.

Label: Century Media

Genre: Grindcore

Release Date EU: March 30^th, 2018

(7/10) The epicenter of rock music in the 90’s was located in Washington. Seattle is still known as the city where grunge was born and it was this new musical genre that overshadowed the fact that there were much more band hailing from Seattle outside the grunge movement.

No less than metal icons Queensryche are from Seattle but also punk bands like Zeke call the North East of the US their home. The debut, “Super Sound Racing”, was released in 1995, followed by some more records.

Over the last years it became a bit quite when it comes to Zeke, with the last studio album being 14 years old. 2018 is the year of Zeke’s return. The guys ship their new longplayer “Hellbender” to the record shops on March 30^th, an album that’s a real blast.

Zeke isn’t known for complex songs and calmer sounds. These guys are known for smashing and fast punk rock which they also put on “Hellbender”. 15 song in total make you feel like sitting in a speed-train without breaks. The punk roots are obvious with each of the songs, but Zeke’s sound is more than only punk. Over time the guys added some metal and blues parts to the mix which makes them sound like a punk version of the legendary Motörhead.

“Hellbender” became an aggressive and energetic album with right-in-your-face songs. These tunes are gaining in intensity by the sound of the album. No less that Jack Endino was at the helm and gave the album a spot-on sound that makes these 20 minutes to a wild ride that will be loved by rock/punk purists.

(7/10)

Tracklist:

1. All the Way
2. Two Lane Blacktop
3. On The Road
4. Working Man
5. Hellbender
6. County Jail
7. Burn
8. Goin’ Down
9. White Wolf
10. AR-15
11. Cougar Rock
12. Devil’s Night
13. Ride On
14. Redline
15. Big Rig

Label: Relapse Records

Genre: Thrash & Punk

Release Date EU: March 30^st, 2018

(8/10) Baltimore-based hardcore outfit Turnstile published their second album "Time & Space" a few days ago, a longplayer that releases energy with every song that ended up on the tracklist.

Turnstile's sound is based on some hardcore roots, but it's more that influences the songs. There is some solid punk rock added to the mix which spices up "Time & Space" a lot.

The variety of sounds can be explored with "Real Thing", the song that's number one on the batting order. It's an aggressive hardcore song, kept rather short, as most of the tracks on the album. The cool thing is the bar jazz part that ends the tune and bridges to "Big Smile", which is the next uptempo attack. It brings hardcore and rock'n'roll together and sound pretty cool.

"Bomb" is a chilling interlude that spreads a lounge feeling before a solid bassline introduces the mighty "I Don' Wanna Be Blind". "Can't Get Away" reminds of the earlier Dog Eat Dog while "Moon" merges hardcore with some Nirvana vibes.

With "Disco" the listener faces another relaxed interlude before the title track introduces the end of this entertaining longplayer.

"Time & Space" is an album that presents hardcore roots which are interpreted a bit wider than usually. The result sounds great though and the disc will get some more spins on my record player.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. Real Thing
2. Big Smile
3. Generator
4. Bomb
5. I Don't Wanna Be Blind
6. High Pressure
7. (Lost Another) Piece of My World
8. Can't Get Away
9. Moon
10. Come Back For More
11. Right to Be
12. Disco
13. Time & Space

Label: Roadrunner Records

Genre: Hardcore

Release Date EU: February 23rd, 2018

(7/10) Relapse Records has a split release in the pipeline that sees the light of day beginning of March. Crossover thrashers Iron Reagan share an album with death metal powerhouse Gatecreeper. The latter added three songs to the total while Iron Reagan is present with five new tracks.

Things start with Iron Reagan, honoring again the glorious days of crossover thrash, times when bands like Nuclear Assault and D.R.I. had their peak moments. The quintet didn’t accept any compromises in the past and also the new songs follow this merciless approach. Iron Reagan is pushing the pedal to the metal which ends up in extremely speedy smashers such as „Warning“ or the 43 seconds blast „Proudly Unaccountable“. The only moment of moderate pace is „Take the Fall". Not that it's of extremely different tempo but it’s build on a slightly slower pace which brings a great groove more to forefront. Not a too bad thing, I must say.

After such a speed attack, Iron Reagan hand over to Gatecreeper. All of a sudden you're confronted by a totally different sound construct and thankfully there is an intro entitled „Daybreak" that prepares you for a death metal ride. Gatecreeper is specialized for oldschool death metal that reminds of bands like Obituary. It’s not that you’re paralyzed by new things after you listened to „Dead Inside“ and „War Has Begun“. Gatecreeper’s mission isn’t to redefine death metal. They build their songs on roots that lead back to Tampa in the eighties. However, what Gatecreeper brings to the table is still great music and listening to the songs is a pleasure without any suffering.

This split CD is a good way of checking out two bands of Relapse Records rich portfolio of metal outfits that you maybe would have missed otherwise.

(7/10)

Tracklist:

Iron Reagan

1. Warning
2. Paper Shredder
3. Take the Fall
4. Proudly Unaccountable
5. Burn For This

Gatecreeper

1. Daybreak (Intro)
2. Dead Inside
3. War Has Begun

Label: Relapse Records

Genre: Thrash Metal / Death Metal

Release Date EU: March 2^nd, 2018

(*/10) It was almost a year ago when German punk rock outfit Betontod celebrated their 1000th live show at Mitsubishi Electric Hall in Düsseldorf. The concert could be seen as a home game for the band hailing from Rheinberg. In front of 3,500 enthusiastic fans the band faced the biggest concert to date. In total 23 songs have been played, bridging the early days (“Freiheit in Ketten”) and the newest release (“Kuess Mich”).

“1000x Live” includes excellent punk rock with German lyrics. Betontod has already some live releases as being part of their discography with this one representing Betontod creative achievements in the most holistic way. In case you missed out on the band till now it’s this release that provides you with a comprehensive overview in an energetic live setup. Good songs, good sound, good energy, good release and all authentic – what else could you ask for?

(*/10)

Tracklist:

1. Intro

2. Keine Popsongs!

3. Fluegel aus Stahl

4. Kuess mich

5. Nacht im Ghetto

6. Generation X

7. Alles

8. Schwarzes Blut

9. Feuer frei

10. Nebel

11. 7 Schuss

12. Mein letzter Tag

13. Freiheit in Ketten

14. Kinder des Zorns

15. Dagegenstehen

16. Ihr koennt mich

17. Halt mich

18. Traum von Freiheit

19. Glueck auf

20. Ich nehme dich mit

21. Freunde

22. Viva Punk!

23. Im Himmel

Label: Arise Empire / Nuclear Blast

Genre: Punk Rock

Release Date EU: November 24th, 2017

(7/10) Even though I was always interested in punk rock there are probably genres in rock and metal where I’m more into details. That’s the one and only reason why I missed The Adicts over all these years.

The Adicts are punk rock veterans. The guys started back in 1975 in Ipswich, England, with a debut album, entitled “Songs of Praise”, that followed in 1981. Since then the quartet is a constant factor in the fields of UK punk rock with many more records that have been released since then.

One of the inspirations of The Adicts is ‘Clockwork Orange’. The band’s name is based on the Stanley Kubrick famous movie and also the outfit, white shirts and make-up, is linked to the film classic. Even a glance at the artwork of the new longplayer shows the cross-references in a very obvious way.

Talking about the new longplayer means talking about twelve well-crafted punk rock songs. On the one hand Monkey, Pete Dee, Kid Dee and Highko Storm can build on a huge amount of experience, gained over a period of more than 40 years and on the other hand it’s the anarchic wildness the guys could maintain over such a long time, by still being authentic. And last but not least it’s the stable line-up over more the four decades that led to blind faith and high density in sound .

All the mentioned results in 12 new punk rock songs from The Adicts. “And it was So!” is the title of the new longplayer and it’s the excellent opener “Picture the Scene” that brings you in the right mood for 39 minutes of pure punk rock. The songs I like most are the short and crispy ones. The up-tempo “Fucked Up World” is one of them and also “Gospel According to Me” boils things down to its essence. Another highlight, and maybe the best song on the album, is “Déjà Vu”. This grooving monster casts a spell over you.

“And it was So!” makes fun from beginning to end. This album is raw and basic, just as punk rock should be. The Adicts’ new record shows that punk’s not dead.

(7/10)

Tracklist:

1. Picture the Scene
2. Fucked Up World
3. Talking Shit
4. If You Want It
5. Gospel According to Me
6. Gimme Something to Do
7. Love Sick Baby
8. And it was So!
9. Deja Vu
10. I Owe You
11. Wanna Be
12. You'll be the Death of Me

Label: Nuclear Blast

Genre: Punk

Release Date EU: November 17^th, 2017

(8/10) Officially Iron Monkey are categorised as being a sludge metal outfit. But the trio from Nottingham has more to offer. Iron Monkey began in 1994 and finished off a first era in 1999. After 18 years of absence it is 2017 which brings Iron Monkey back to the scene. Being a trip these days the guys worked on the comeback album “9-13” which hit the shelves in October.

Things get started with „Crown of Electrodes“ which is brutal sludge metal killer, unveiling some anarchic sound with the almost insane shouting by frontman Jim Rushby. This guy doesn’t give his vocal ligaments any moment of rest, with the hoarse screams being a substantial element of Iron Monkey‘s sound, regardless what pace the song comes with. Compared to some other stuff on the album the title track i.e. is slower and comes with a mighty groove before „Toadcricifier - R.I.P per“ shifts three gears, being a nasty high-speed smasher.

It‘s those variations in speed and tempo that adds to the positive impression I got from this release, with „The Rope“ entering the fields of slo-mo riffs with a solid doom expression.

What‘s impressive is the nine minutes closer that you might not expect from a sludge band. The guys have enough musical experience to give these nine minutes quite some breaks and twists. Not that the trio deviates from their general pattern. It‘s more the adaption of their own trademarks that adds the dynamic needed for such long closer.

Iron Monkey‘s new longplayer is an uncompromising and menacing piece of music - a furious ravage that is worth some spins.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. Crown of Electrodes
2. OmegaMangler
3. 9-13
4. Toadcrucifier - R.I.P.PER
5. Destroyer
6. Mortarhex
7. The Rope
8. Doomsday Impulse Multiplier
9. Moreland St. Mahhervortex

Label: Relapse Records

Genre: Sludge

Release Date EU: October 20th, 2017

(4/10) Here comes another band hailing from Gothenburg – Highrider. The quartet release their debut “Roll for Initiative”, following a first EP from 2016. The label info-sheet that comes with this longplayers describes their style as “A metallic and raw debut filled with Scandinavian high energy heavy metal. "Roll For Initiative" holds 8 tracks that mixes thrash, metal, 70´s, doom, punk and hardcore”, which I think is summed up very well. Unfortunately this is also the problem with “Roll for Initiative”. It’s a bit of everything, missing a common approach.

“Roll for Initiative” sounds fragmented. The only thing that keeps this mix of styles together is the raw und unleashed energy the guys weaved into each of the songs. Next to the energy it’s the vocals/screaming, acting as a common denominator in each of the tracks. But these screams are hard to handle and start to become annoying after the first song. Actually it's more vomiting out lyrics rather than screaming.

A song that describes the mentioned best is “The Greater Monkey”. Keyboards play an important role in the beginning of this tune, reminding of some more classic rock. The following riff attack is anchored somewhere between metal and hardcore, with the keyboard sound being a constant companion. It just doesn't work.

There are many excellent releases these days, unfortunately “Roll for Initiative” couldn’t find a spot on this list. This one-dimensional screaming orgy might be interesting for some. For me at least there’s far too little meat on the bone to appease my appetite for good metal.

(4/10)

Tracklist:

1. Nihilist Lament
2. A Burial Scene
3. Batteries
4. The Greater Monkey
5. Vagina Al Dente
6. Emotional Werewolf
7. Roll Dee Twenty
8. The Rope And The Blade

Label: The Sign

Genre: Thrash Metal/Hardcore

Release Date EU: September 15th , 2017

(5/10) ‘All good things come in threes’, that could be one thought that Nick Oliveri had before starting this trilogy. Next to that, and looking on sales prices, it’s also a good opportunity to make some money. Instead of putting all the songs, or most of them, on one album, these EPs’ triple the income by being priced as a regular CD.

However, as with the first two six track releases also volume three comes with cover versions of tunes that influenced Oliveri and also belong to his personal favorites. And as we’re used to, Oliveri invited guest musicians to join him on “N.O. Hits at All – Volume 3”. John Joseph (Cro-Mags) is part of this release as well as Todd Youth (Murphy’s Law, Danzig), Brant Bjork, Melissa auf der Maur, Joey Castillo and some more.

The choice of songs cover a range from Royale Daemons to Black Sabbath, the later being represented on this EP with an awful version of “The Mob Rules”. Hopefully Ozzy and Co. don’t have to listen to this version of their classic in metal.

“N.O. Hits at All – Volume 3” starts to become an annoying continuation of a great idea that started with volume one. This EP is a redundant one and I hope it’s the last one of its kind.

(5/10)

Tracklist:

1. R’n’R Outlaw
2. Luv is Fiction
3. Medication
4. Kyuss Dies!
5. Country As Fuck
6. The Mob Rules

Label: Heavy Psych Records

Genre: Punk Rock

Release Date EU: October 20st, 2017

Vallenfyre played a powerful show at Gebr. de Nobel in Leiden, NL a couple of weeks ago. Here are some pics from the awesome concert.

(8/10) Winnipeg is more known for ice hockey rather than for music. However, also metal and hardcore is well-known in Manitoba with Comeback Kid being one of the most well-known band representing the local scene in a more global scale. And just in case you wonder, yes, that’s a link between the band and ice hockey. When Mario Lemieux, a Hockey Hall of Fame star, came back to the NHL it was newspaper headline talking about the ‘comeback kid’ and that’s the whole story.

Anyhow, Comeback Kid doesn’t need to have any ‘comeback’. They guys are very present since 2000 with various releases filling their discography. The last longplayer reached fans of the band in 2014 and was entitled “Die Knowing”. Three years later the result of the bands hard work can be enjoyed on their next full-length release. “Outsider”, that’s the header of the album, comes with 13 brand new songs, all spot-on and without frills and decoration.

To start with the real highlight right away means talking about the monstrous “Somewhere, Somehow”. Comeback Kid managed to create with this song a hardcore anthem that comes with an enormous groove in the verse before the punky chorus infects you with its melody. This number is a real smasher.

The even more positive thing is the fact that it might stand out a bit, but other songs can easily compete with it. “I’ll be that” is a raging hardcore song that kicks in from the first note played and “Hell of a Scene” is not made for compromising on anything too.

Next to these tunes the album also includes contributions of some guest. Devin Townsend is present on “Absolute”, while Chris Cresswell can be heard on “Consumed the Vision” and Northcote has taken over a few parts for "Moment in Time".

“Outsider” marks a new high when it comes to Comeback Kid. This longplayer is powerful, angry, energetic and approachable. You should not miss this forceful slap shot.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. Outsider
2. Surrender Control
3. Absolute (feat. Devin Townsend)
4. Hell of a Scene
5. Somewhere, Somehow
6. Consumed the Vision (feat. Chris Cresswell)
7. I’ll be that
8. Outrage (Fresh Face, Stale Cause)
9. Blindspot
10. Livid, I’m Prime
11. Recover
12. Throw That Stone
13. Moment in Time (feat. Northcote)

Label: Nuclear Blast

Genre: Hardcore

Release Date EU: September 8^th, 2017