The one nice thing about being home for the holiday break is being able to use my parent’s audio equipment. Shiny turntable, glistening receiver, and pounding speakers round out the perfect setup to go through the giant pile of CDs and vinyl that have been collecting dust for the past couple of months. I popped in the nautical themed Abyss from Merrimack Valley, Massachusetts based SHIPWRECK A.D. and within a minute, felt the double bass pulsating from the speakers as frontman J.D.’s vocals erupted out of the sea of heavy guitars and crashing drums.

In addition to the fantastic production and gorgeous packaging, the consistently impressive songwriting that runs throughout the album really makes it stand out from any other metallic hardcore being released right now. Sure, you can expect plenty of gruff vocals with the occasional breakdown here and there, but with tracks like “Samur” and “Helix,” SHIPWRECK show that they can manipulate a tried and trusted hardcore style to make it sound incredibly refreshing and truly their own. Whether it’s a soothing guitar intro, or absolutely crushing drums that build up and explode with the perfect combination of vocal intensity and heavy guitar (see “Ascent”), SHIPWRECK are able to create an atmosphere that simply reminds you of the waves and the ocean. I hate to steal a direct quote from the Deathwish, Inc. website, but they really do make an “aural tsunami that builds and crashes with immeasurable hardcore force,” which keeps you alert and aware of where the song is progressing and the little touches they threw in.

The nautical theme runs throughout the album and combined with intelligent lyrics, you can feel a sense of despair and hopelessness that eventually comes full circle by the time the closing track, “Zenith,” is finished. It’s nice to see a lyrical progression throughout the album, instead of 11 tracks of pure rage that ultimately goes unresolved. As J.D. sings on “Nerius,” “I don’t fit the mold,” which certainly rings true and serves as a testament to the SHIPWRECK A.D.’s ability to put a new spin on an old sound.

Deathwish Inc.