Review Summary: GO Underrated Hardcore GO!
First Blood’s 2006 effort Killafornia garnered the band a fairly sizable fanbase, primarily culled from the neo-hardcore movement, whose roots lie not from the genre’s punk rock roots, but a more modern, post-Hatebreed world.
In this sense, the band’s Silence is Betrayal follow-up is a well done effort in the aforementioned ‘Breed and Terror-ized style, sure to appease fans of Killafornia and beyond.
This being said, however, the distance between what is considered hardcore in 2010 and such classic ‘core examples as the Cro-Mags, Agnostic Front, the Bad Brains and Minor Threat is seemingly insurmountable. It’s sad, really, because even though First Blood aren’t without their share of speed at times, the insistent reliance on half-time, lowest common denominator breakdowns is a depressing reminder of how little bands and fans of this style seem interested in progression.
Even the metal-esque appeal of Silence is Betrayal sounds relegated solely to that of bare bones brutality; without much substance to speak of, nor any lasting emotional depth…other than a tedious aggression. First Blood is far removed even from the classic '80s crossover style of Leeway or DRI in its dyed-in-the-wool new-ness.
Not to say it's all bad a few standout tracks (Enemy, Detach and Fear are great examples) are actually really good maybe even excellent and if you have the power to block your mind so you think this isn't a hardcore album you might find this extraordinary. But ether if you like/disike this you should check out some of the earlier hardcore bands(Bad Brains,Cro-mags,Black Flag Etc.).
But as a whole, Silence is Betrayal is a record created and designed solely for a younger generation, worlds apart from those laid the groundwork of how the term hardcore punk used to be defined for an older, brighter day.
