Review Summary: An honest, powerful and fun interpretation of Hardcore. It kicks ass, and is just a joy to listen to
If you're looking for something groundbreaking new, you might as well stop reading now. If there is one thing
This Is Hell from Long Island, New York are not, then it's innovative. If you're looking for honest music, hat is powerfull and to the point, should risk a look and listen with this band. This five piece is devoted to Hardcore, and even if they do not reinvent the wheel, you can find a very emotional and powerful interpretation of the genre.
This starts with the sound of the album. The production sounds very unpolished and rough, overall the sound reminds of the last
Gallows record. In a way, the album has the flair of a local punk band, as if you're listening to your local heroes from the youth center around the corner. And this is meant in the most positive way. This is one of the reasons that it does not matter that much that the riffs of
Rick Jiminez and
Chris Reynolds sound quite similar in rapid succession. The main construct of
Here Come The Rains and
The Polygraph Cheaters are really similar, which is noticed especially after repeated listens. This lack in variety is made up with a lot of energy and power that the songs present. The rythm section with
Dan Bourke and
Jhonny Moore pushes forward all the time, and gives more relaxed instrumentals like
8/27/05 a very dense atmosphere. It all comes together with singer
Travis Reilly, who complements if perfectly with his ongoing pissed sounding vocals, supported by the typical
Comeback Kid-singalongs featuring a thousend men as it seems.
What more is there to say? As a whole, the album can impress. With the Hardcore in the wake of acts like
Modern Life Is War and
American Nightmare,
This Is Hell can land some good hits. In about thirty minutes play time the listener get's a good demonstration how
Hardcore should sound: energetic, powerful, honest and close to the audience. When the songs display a clear singalong character, like the single
The Polygraph Cheaters, what should go wrong then? Maybe that's the reason why
Converge frontman
Jacob Bannon designed the cover for this one. If you're looking for a really solid Hardcore-record, get this one.
