Guns Up! were formed from the fertile ground of the Boston hardcore scene and play a brand of the now famous New York hardcore sound. Having released a 7” and an EP on smaller labels, the band are unleashing their debut full length, ‘Outlive’ through Reflections.
It’s clear from the onset of this album that Guns Up! are very good at what they do. Evoking memories of bands like Madball and No Warning, this is no frills hardcore at its purest and best. ‘Outlive’ is an album that rattles past in under 25 minutes, and one that is full of honesty, intensity and fury.
It is true that Guns Up! bring little new to the table, but then hardcore is a genre where it is very hard to start a musical revolution. What sets this band apart from most of their genre mates is the sheer quality of the music. From the very first strains of the title track, Guns Up! give you a musical uppercut to the chin and continue to beat you into submission for the rest of the album. Combing fantastic, heavy riffs with a strong rhythm section and powerful vocals, there isn’t a dull moment here. If the likes of ‘Life’s Ill’, ‘Won’t Change for Me’ and ‘To an End’ don’t see you with your clenched fist in the air then nothing will!
If you like hardcore in any shape or form, then you need this album in your collection. With ‘Outlive’ Guns Up! have crafted one of the finest debut hardcore albums I’ve heard for some time.
» Official Website
» Listen on Myspace
