TO THE LIONS - Baptism Of Fire

TO THE LIONS
Baptism Of Fire
Goodfellow Records
8/10




Channeling the sound of bands like Chokehold and Terror, To The Lions aims for a stripped-down hardcore sound on “Baptism Of Fire.” This style suits the band well, as the band tears through no-nonsense stomp sessions such as “Ride The Apocalypse,” “Born To Die” and “The Forsaken” with abrasive viscosity. To be fair, the biggest disadvantage of the entire affair is the tendency of To The Lions not to stray too far away from tried-and-true hardcore formulas.

There are most assuredly patterns to be found within the band’s music, but even so, these guys take the hardcore mantle and run with it. For what it’s worth, the heart of the band shines through so greatly that the formulaic approach is of little consequence.

A plethora of pit-inducing riffs lurk on “Baptism Of Fire,” and naturally, the album has its share of breakdowns as well. But the major focus behind much of these songs lies in driving rhythms. Whether the group chooses to propel the highly aggressive “Amnesia” with a razor-edged, old school chug or relies on pure weightiness during “Final Chapter,” the result is at all times uncompromisingly heavy.

For those of you who revel in the old school sounds, “Baptism Of Fire” is refreshingly honest, undoubtedly moshable and true to everything that hardcore music ought to be.

By: Musclehead