Cool, this is a change of pace as far as what I'm used to from heavy Finnish hardcore, as the songs are short as shit and based more around the old school style. The vocals are gruff as hell, but the music is straightforward, made up of basic chord progressions, breakdowns, etc. Musically it sort of reminds me of Confront from time to time, but a little bit heavier and more midpaced. There's not really enough variety from song to song, but that's not a big deal. It could be better, but it's still an enjoyable listen. "Fuck Your Illusion" is a bit more explosive and pissed off, and that sticks out for sure. The recording's not bad for a demo. The bass tone is awesome and pops out from behind the guitars, the drums sound good, etc. I'd probably like to hear the vocals mixed back in against the guitars a little more, but this would make a good 7" in my opinion. The CD-R comes in a xeroxed package with all of the lyrics and layered imagery that's a little had to make out. The lyrics are a lot different than most of this style of hardcore, taking on loose socio-political issues such as corruption and war, the objectification of bodies by the media and pop culture/advertising, senseless violence, and so on. I think the lyrical themes definitely give this band an edge, as they actually have something to say. Good stuff. I like it. I'll look forward to hearing more from these guys... because this thing's over in a flash.
[self-released]
Running time - 9:26, Tracks: 9
[Notable tracks: Programmed Life, Fuck Your Illusion, Drowning Nation]
Drowning Nation - http://www.geocities.com/drowning_nation/
