Under Pressure "Habits" 7"
[Sound Pollution]
Here's the latest EP from this killer Canadian hardcore/punk act, and they just keep getting better and better. Overall they're still drawing from a ton of different influences so that their sound falls into the classic style of the genre without coming off as a mere throwback, and there are no direct comparisons to be made, which is fuckin' great. I just love the damn vocals, which are really bitter yells with a unique edge, so they don't sound anything like most bands that play true to form hardcore/punk, they're a little more aggressive but fit in perfectly and add a lot of character. Musically you'll get plenty of straight power chords and hints of dissonance, but they even fuck with the rhythmic arrangements in "Escapist" quite a bit - an approach also hinted at in tracks like "The Radiator", so when you listen closely the arrangements are actually a lot more involved than your standard verse/chorus kind of thing. "Fast Lane" opens with bass and feedback leading into caustic guitar noises, and "Daily Grind" throws a little more rock 'n' roll in there, but in the most powerful sense - and even more so in the surging closer "The Gift", which actually ends up having a darker melodic edge that makes for the strongest track on the entire EP. The recording sounds awesome, too. The bass tone is motherfucking perfect, the drums sound punchy and natural, the guitars are just right for this particular niche of hardcore, and the vocals rest right in the heart of the mix. So in the end everything comes across as thick and unified, with a nice sense of balance. The record comes in a simple black and white sleeve with high contrast imagery and handwritten text for the lyrics, so as usual the visual aesthetic is in fine order. I'm a fan of the lyrical content as well since the delivery is somehow able to blend a no bullshit delivery and a sense of clarity with a more creative approach that leaves certain aspects open: "Embrace what I can't control, If there's one thing I know it's my role, Humbled by my limits, full knowing my fate, The one person I can't afford to hate, Habits you never break, only replace, Not strong enough to amputate." Good stuff. Another scorcher from a band that I view as one of the finest out there right now when it comes to hardcore/punk. They may not get as much attention as some of their contemporaries, but trust me... this band is a definite powerhouse that has so much more to offer. (8/10)
Running time - 12:00 (approximately), Tracks: 6
[Notable tracks: Unbroken, Fast Lane, The Gift]
Under Pressure - http://underpressure.n3.net

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