What the fuck? Comin' Correct is still around? I don't think I've even heard anything outta them since the late-90's!? And what's up with "False Claims" jumping from chunky power chords and Rick ta Life's patented raspy scream/yell to fucked up dissonant metal riffs that are actually pretty damn cool? And a guest vocal spot from Ezec in a cover of the Cro-Mags' "Survival of the Streets"? (It's only two lines, but still, I thought those guys didn't get along?) "Hardcore Memories" sounds much rawer, so I'm assuming it's an older song, as the credits cite the material as being copyrighted 1998 - 2003, but who knows? After that it's another cover, Youth of Today's "Wake Up and Live", also with a rawer sound, so... maybe two of these songs are from '98 and two are from 2003, I'm not sure. Whatever the case, it sounds about how you'd expect except for those unexpected metal riffs in the first track. The recordings could be better, and I'm not too wild on the rawer material, but you can't lose with the Cro-Mags, and "False Claims" is surprisingly promising. Skare Tactic follows with six tracks of their own chunky metallic hardcore in which the songwriting has taken a step up, but the sound quality still lacks for me. It's nothing new, they're still dealing with lots of midpaced power chords and shouting vocals in short tracks that follow a pretty standard formula, but I just think the sound needs more punch. It's a little muddy and the vocals are fighting for space with the guitars, so... a brighter mix with more power to the guitars and differentiation between all of the elements would definitely help out a lot. The packaging actually looks pretty good, maintaining a consistent aesthetic and allotting space for each band to include lyrics and such. Comin' Correct's material of course deals with staying true and living for yourself and shit, while Skare Tactic actually includes brief song explanations for their already bitter and to the point attacks: "I had no choice but to fight and hold my own, Strength brought from pain..." I don't know, this is a quick split, and I like a lot of what I'm hearing, but it still needs work. Assuming Comin' Correct recycled some older tunes they probably should've used all new material instead, and Skare Tactic's making progress on adding energy to their songwriting, but the production needs to step it up as well. I'm curious, but not totally won over with this one.
[Thorp]
Running time - 20:11, Tracks: 10
[Notable tracks: False Claims, Survival of the Streets, Behind Cold Eyes, Stronger in the End]
Thorp Records - http://www.thorprecords.com
