Damage Deposit "Do Damage" 7"
[Havoc]
This is basically the band's demo pressed onto a 7" with an awesome packaging job that really eclipses the visuals of the demo. For those unaware (and I doubt there are many of you), this band features Felix Havoc on vocals along with former members of Any Last Words and Black Brick Kiss. I reviewed the demo a few months ago, and here's what I had to say: "The songs are short, fast bursts of traditional hardcore with pissed off vocal shouts and quick vocal arrangements. I actually love the fucking vocals. They're fucking great. And no, I'm absolutely not just saying that because Felix runs a great label and has been in a lot of killer bands... they're just awesome vocals. It's as simple as that. This is definitely along the old school hardcore lines, there's no metal here at all, but the general speed and some aspects of the vocal approach sort of suggest something a bit more aggressive. But make no mistake, this is hardcore, and nothing but. There's a little bit of odd dissonance/melody in tracks like 'That's Not Core Dude' and 'More Than Duct Tape', but for the most part the riffing is more straightforward and revolves around blazing chord progressions with the occasional slower break (but not in a mosh part way - except for maybe in 'Just Try to Stop Us' - just in the literal sense that there are some slower tempos). I don't mind the lack of variety as the songs are fairly energetic and the demo is short, but the production could definitely be better if you ask me, because it's a little bit rugged and thin. It's alright. My biggest gripe is that there are a lot of gaps in the mix, and sometimes the drums sound flimsy. The guitars are nice and dirty, they're not overly distorted, and the bass tone's got some definition to it, but something's missing. The vocals are totally fine. I really like the texture and their placement in the mix, I just think the instruments need more cohesion with one another. The lyrics cover a range of styles and topics. As far as content the songs deal with both observations/criticisms of the hardcore scene and society/politics in general, and the style of writing ranges from straightforward to what I would probably call intentionally humorous in a way. One minute it's, 'Man is condemned to die by his own hand, Tampering with forces he cannot understand...' and the next it's, 'More macho than a prison weight room when the ninjas start to flex, Would they dance so hard if they weren't so repressed? Dazzling display of martial skills, But when you hog the floor, the atmosphere is killed...'" Listening back to the material now on this 7", I feel pretty much the same way, but the sound seems slightly stronger somehow. The bass presence is nice, and while it seems somewhat thin, I don't hear quite as much separation between the instruments. I also notice a slight Youth of Today ring to some of the vocals, which I still love. I 'm enjoying the songs slightly more as well. It could still be better, but I definitely respect their approach a lot. And the package is great. The sleeve is all done in black, white, and red, and the illustrations are awesome, as is the way the lyrics are collaged over flyers and whatnot inside. Good stuff. I'm glad they put this material out on a 7", because it looks way better and is far more suitable than the previously issued CD-R. (7/10)
Running time - 12:00 (approximately), Tracks: 8
[Notable tracks: That's Not Core Dude, More Than Duct Tape, Just Try to Stop Us, Ninjas to the Back]
Havoc Records - http://www.havocrex.com

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