Concluding Victory Records trio of early summer hardcore releases is the rather brutal “Unbroken” by Canada’s ‘A Perfect Murder’. Throughout the course of the 36 minutes the onslaught doesn’t let up and the constant battering of instruments leaves you somewhat flustered and exhausted as the final crashing chord is played thirteen tracks later. For the tattooed hardcore anarchist, well you will lap up every lasting second of this. If you like your hardcore a little more sickly sweet however then I would advise you to steer clear of this release as it may just be a little to much for you to swallow in one sitting.
I’m no expert on the genre (don’t all gasp at once…) but this seems to be hardcore as it is supposed to be presented in its brashest form. It is choc-full of crunching power chords and electric guitar trickery as it moves effortlessly from track to track in its boldest form which is somewhat of a disappointment as it very rarely strays from its proven formula which can become very tiring, very quickly. It is not that the band are bad at what they do because they do it impeccably well, but hearing the same throaty screams and the same crashing symbols over and over it can start to grate upon repeat listens very quickly. As for tracks that do stand out amongst the bustling crowd, opener ‘Jaded’ is a great advert for the album while ‘Slave to the Clock’ also stands out with its ripping fuck you attitude. The album on a whole has more in common with what we may consider metal, but with the line ever blurring this may come as no great surprise, and is the perfect anecdote for the metalcore mob out there.
“Unbroken” displays the kind of music that is heavier than most bands dare to try in the 21st century, it is tidy and tight musical breakdowns complement this, while the vocals are also pulled off to a satisfying manner. Yet I never felt completely satisfied with the LP as a whole and could never fully settle down with it. This album comes highly recommended to the hardcore kids out there and they will undoubtedly find a lot to enjoy here, but for all others, approach with caution.
Jay
www.xaperfectmurderx.net
Victory Records
