Review Summary: Twelve minutes of pure 'American Violence'
Sometimes intensity is all you need in an album and Phillie hardcore band Reign Supreme has it in spades. Always in your face, never giving a listener respite, and constantly pummeling speakers with riff after riff, Reign Supreme plays a tried and true method of hardcore reminiscent of older Blacklisted and Have Heart. In 2008, Reign Supreme released a left handed haymaker in the form of the EP American Violence and it is without a doubt a must get for the genre. In nearly twelve minutes, Reign Supreme establish themselves as one of the heaviest and heartfelt bands in modern hardcore.
Most listeners will be instantly put off by the song lengths found in American Violence, not one song clocks in over three minutes and the shortest track is merely thirty seconds long- but this can be found acceptable as it helps trim the fat that any normal hardcore release could falter under. Every song on American Violence, from the ominous ‘Intro’ track to the final track ‘Faithless’, carries itself perfectly along with the rest of the album; six direct punches right to the listeners grill. ‘To A Dead God’ is arguably one of the highlights, not only on American Violence, but also in the hardcore genre as a whole; its driving opening bass line, its well crafted riffs, plus some of the greatest vocals found in hardcore.
Lets face it, some bands out there are just laughable in their attempt to come off as the ‘heaviest band in music’, but some can do it without even trying. Reign Supreme makes hardcore seem like a walk in the park, they don’t do much in terms of dissonance or technicality, but they put so much energy into their music that it’s hard to ignore. While this album won’t sonically obliterate you (I can direct you to Coalesces ‘Functioning On Impatience’ for that) it is more in tune to a heavy beat down, with a crow bar. Far from masterpiece of the genre, this is without a doubt a must get for those who would list Blacklisted or Verse as genre favorites.
