Leeds’ BEASTS and Middlesborough’s MISERY ADDICT, currently embarking on a joint tour, represent the hard, aggressive edge of the British hardcore circuit, with this split release featuring two tracks from each. Beasts play at a faster pace than Misery Addicts, with the vocals practically screamed over the crunching guitars and pounding drums. Unfortunately, the lo-fi recording only serves to expose the bands glaring flaws – the drummer is trying to throw so many changes, rolls and fills into the songs that the band feel like they’re playing out of time, and the song structures feel completely cluttered with unnecessary changes and breaks. They’re trying to capture a frantic, aggressive sound, but the songs feel like they’re on the verge of falling apart.
Misery Addicts fair much better though, with extremely aggressive vocals and a more stripped down sound. Repetitive, GBH influenced guitar riffs provide the solid groundwork for some interesting gang vocals and strong structure. The best example is on the chorus of ‘Preach’, when the band chant ‘preach, preach, preach’ while the singer does an angry, building, almost spoken-word rant over the top.
ROGER HOLLAND