EXTINCTION AD - CULTURE OF VIOLENCE

CROSS-OVER TO GET YOUR PB IN PRESS-UPS

Like an old classic Landrover, you know what to expect with cross-over hardcore: iconic, throaty, uncomplicated, utilitarian charm. Moreover, both possess a grittiness and hardness that makes them impervious to trends but also unsuited to more glamorous environments. Clumsy as the comparison might be, you could venture to take it even further because however much affection both are held by their devotees, there can be recurrent serious issues over stylistic limitations and reliability. Essentially hardcore can be prone to one-dimensionalism – which is perfectly fine – but it needs to be done sincerely. You cannot feign the requisite energy and anger that propels this genre, otherwise it fast becomes a boring, uninspiring chore. To be sure, all the great hardcore acts had an incendiary edge and vivacity that cannot be trained.

Fortunately, despite this being their third album, Extinction A.D. are still pure raging. None of their delivery is in any sense original, but it is brutish, bellicose, pit-inciting cross-over played with a vim that brings to mind the neo-thrash of the mid-1990s. Extinction A.D. are a tight, economical unit but it feels like a coiled spring and, at their peak, they are incendiary with the furious title track, Dominion, and Mastic.

The musicianship is considerably more advanced than borstal-punk simplicity as the riffs are bursting with intent and quality while an abundance of reeling solos are reminiscent of Exodus or Testament. Thrash bands could probably learn something from the purist fury of the fiery Behind the Times with its bastardised Metallica intro which will have you reaching for the dusty old dumbells in your shed.

Plus you can almost feel the pit bruises from the of the rampant breakdowns and rousing gang chants on the likes of Heads Will Roll. Lyrically it is back-to-basics working-man fodder of political outrage, state corruption and street violence. The rants of Star Strangled Banner and Praise the Fraud are not Leonard Cohen but sincere enough and from the tattooed heart.

As a sub-genre, cross-over hardcore / metal can be so regimented in aesthetic and content unless it is played with total conviction. This is unreconstructed stuff with so many well-drilled aspects from the hardcore cross-over textbook. Yet Extinction A.D. are pumped and playing a furious soundtrack to help get you to your PB in press-ups.

Culture of Violence is released via Unique Leader Records.