Liferuiner- No Saints (Tribunal Records)
I feel that the straight edge scene has kind of been on the back burner as
of lately in the hardcore scenes. Bands really used to put their heart and
soul into it, making it their complete focal point in their music and
lyrics. Now it seems as though bands will come out proclaiming to be
straight edge, usually not even every member, and by the time their band
"makes it" in any way, they kind of stray away from it. Many "so called"
straight edge band members seem to break it by the time they release their
second album. Well, that is definitely not the case with Liferuiner.
Hailing from the cold north of Ontario Canada, Liferuiner is brutal breath
of fresh air in the straight edge metallic hardcore scene. All songs on this
album scream with their edge beliefs, and back it up with some killer
grooves. Some might say that there are too many breakdowns in this album,
almost as if they write breakdowns as the focal point of the song, not just,
well, a "breakdown." This is not a bad thing in anyway though, for the sheer
brutality and intensity of every riff just makes you want to dance. Don't
get me wrong though, there is still song structure here, mainly thick ass
chugga chugga riffs, blasting double bass, and extremely intense shrieking
vocals. The movie samples, and gang choruses add a nice variety to the mix
as well.
All in all I feel that this is an excellent release, especially coming from
a straight edge band, which I have found not to like most. Although I
usually find it kind of comical to promote being edge to this extreme, I
feel here that Liferuiner really mean it, and I like that sort of
conviction. So if you want to get in the circle and throw some roundhouses,
this is the band to listen to. If you are drug free and want a band that
follows your beliefs than this it. And if you are just a huge music fanatic
like me, and just want some heavy fucking hardcore to add to the mix, than
this is for you.
XListen Or DieX
Sam Nastasuk
