First Blood - Rules Pure Noise Records | Release Date : 10th February 2017
Since blasting out of San Francisco fifteen years ago , First Blood have melded brutal hardcore with metal-tinged riffs into a fierce maelstrom of energy and positivity and they don ’ t change this formula one bit on their new album Rules , their first album since 2010s Silence Is Betrayal . Each of the songs on the album is about rules of some kind and the bands anti establishment and thinking for yourself stance is displayed proudly throughout each of the tracks on here and the band don ’ t waste any time at all in letting loose with their hardcore anthems . Rules gets off to a furious start with moshpit anthem in waiting Fuck The Rules and as the song ends with the declaration “ My life , my rules , I won ’ t be led by fools ” it sounds like a rousing statement of intent and one that defines the entire album and with this the album gets off to a great start . The quality doesn ’ t waver at all and although the songs follow a similar lyrical path and spirit , the energy involved keeps things fresh and moving along nicely with Songs like the frenetic Rules Of Life , the chugging anger of Rules Of Sacrifice and the passionate Rules Of Survival in particular are big hardcore anthems with a positive message . The New York Hardcore trio of Sick Of It All , Agnostic Front and Madball ( keep an ear out for their little tribute to the latter on the song Rules Of Freedom ) and labelmates Terror are a big influence on First Blood and those four bands spirit is exemplified by the songs on Rules , a spirit that is alive and well in First Bloods music and ideology and the entire album reads and sounds like like a hardcore manifesto for living the way you want to live it . With Rules , First Blood have once again made an album that is packed full of chunky riffs , grooving rhythms and fearsome breakdowns but also one that sums the bands ethos up superbly and is full of uplifting and positive hardcore anthems .
William Control - The Black EP Rage PR | Release Date : 17th February 2017
The second installment of the Revelations series comes in the form of The Black EP . Following on from October ’ s The Pale EP , this second offering continues to burst at the seams with 80 ’ s nu-romance only this time , shifting into darker territory .
If there is one thing Will Francis can do its darkness ; that ’ s evident from his time in former band Aiden . Lyrically , The Black EP brings a sinister twist to the light poppy melodies and synths yet it manages to fall short in making an impact . Where the music itself feels strong , still adding a niche edge to the rock industry , Will ’ s normally majestic voice just feels lack-lustre against it . The only place where William Control works is in the EP closer Velvet Rose , a piano number which shines a light on a beautiful voice , rather than trying hard to be the “ neuromantic ” movement they want to be .
Revelations being a four part series means that The Black EP might just be the weaker bunch of songs off the album . Here ’ s to hoping the third EP sees William Control bring the energy back once again !
Words by Alice Hoddinott
Words by Gavin Brown
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