Treading the boards of the UK hardcore scene since late 2013, Lock & Key finally have an album. But was it worth the wait?
Showcasing their melodic edge and love for the occasional Earth shattering beatdown, âHostileâ acted as the first single. Rich Lardner screaming âYou fucking cockroach!â before the hardest of breakdowns defiantly gets the listener suitably hyped, this opening track does the business.
Instant belter, âUnclear State of Mindâ, is about as clichĂ© as hardcore gets, that being said, if it ainât broke donât fix it right? Gang vocals, crunching riffs and a classic âOOH!â make up the two-and-a-half-minute assault. Comfortably the shortest track on the record it pummels. Exemplarily throughout but particularly on the first half of the album, rib cage rattling bass riffs dominate. Jangly but with a real metallic feel theyâre impossible to ignore.
Although unforgivingly powerful, Lock & Key deviate little from their famed hardcore formula. Enter; Sean Midson. Singer of fellow UK hardcore band, Create To Inspire, his vocals range from top notch melody maker to cut throat screeches, both of which he uses perfectly on âNo Justiceâ. Giving the listener a break from Lardnerâs harsh tone, Midson delivers. Big time!
Trying their hand at an epic finale didnât really come to fruition, finishing off proceedings is âDead Prayersâ. Although extremely unusual for the band, not having a fuck off breakdown doesnât really qualify as the grandiose epilogue they seemed to attempt. Fizzling out with little impact the track ultimately falls short.
If youâre a fan of L&K you are in for a treat, if you however are a fan of invention and genre spanning mega albums. Perhaps stay clear of this record.
LEW TROTT