THE PROMISE “Believer”
I recently picked up ONE KING DOWN’s “Bloodlust Revenge” cd, because although I had the mp3s, I just felt I needed that cd in my collection. After playing it last weekend, I couldn’t believe that although the music on there is just six years old, it felt like it belonged in such an entirely different era of hardcore. It figures that the very next day, THE PROMISE’s debut full-length, “Believer” arrived in the mail – coming from the highly respected label, Indecision Records. Made up of ex-members of ONE KING DOWN (you don’t say…), EARTH CRISIS, ANOTHER VICTIM, and CONVICTION, this disc is both, a blast to the past, and a novel beginning of how this kind of pure, unadultered straight-edge hardcore can never, and will never die from the conciousness of hardcore kids worldwide. For every twist at metal, turn to emo, and curve to whatever influence is being sought after at the moment – stripped down, arms up, heads held high hardcore, will always reign. “Believer” is a collection of 13 songs, slashed and burned over 25 minutes of music, with no time lost for excessive intros, or metallic punches needlessly thrown. Of all comparisons, the guitars heavily remind me of ONE KING DOWN, and the vocals, screamed, but comprehensible spark of ingenuity. There’s just so much unbridled momentum moving through these songs, that it’s almost impossible to not get caught up in the moment. The bouncy feeling of track nine, “No Hereos,” is sure to ignite pit action, and the same can be said to vitriolic, “Dead Man’s Band.” Strong, healthy sing-alongs run rampart through the 13 tunes here, but never to the point of overload. Lyrically, THE PROMISE are direct and thorough, taking aim at their targets and striking with deadly precision. “Eyes Wide Shut,” is a critical anthem challenging hardcore (presumably) to look past the superficial and work from within. The closing track, “Gone Sour,” could fit on any BANE album, sticking with a ‘hand on the cliff’ kind of positivity – screaming, “I won’t let it go sour / I’ll stay until the fight is won.” THE PROMISE have dropped an extremely exciting album at a time where just hearing this kind of hardcore feels so reassuring. Knowing that there are still those who want to carry the torch to take back an element of music that’s far more meaningful than anything that can deduced from a bottom rung of “scene-hair” is honestly inspiring. Take notice of these guys, now!
Indecision
