90%
Soldiers—End of Days (2007)
Details
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Joe Cincotta and Dan Kennyat Full Force Studio. Produced by Joe Cincotta, Danny Kenny and T$S.
Band
- Rick Limenez—Vocals
- Brian Audley—Guitar
- Chris Mazella—Guitar
- Andrew Jones—Bass
- Dan Bourke—Drums
Additional musicians
- John Moore—Guest vocals on “Even worse”
- Jeff Tiu—Guest vocals on “Damage is done”
- Brendan Garrone—Guest vocals on “Since day one”
Tracks
- Even worse
- Sever ties
- The reclamation
- Decide and conquer
- Choosing revenge
- Relentless
- Bound by defiance (T$S)
- Damage is done
- Nothing more, nothing less
- Own up!
- Since day one
- Smoke and mirrors
- Living hell (bonus track)
Review
Every time I come across a hardcore album I’m always surprised at how much I like it. My average score for hardcore albums on this project is 75%. I perhaps should just accept that I’m a bit of an unconscious hardcore punk fan.
I like hardcore punk.
I like hardcore punk.
I like hardcore punk.
I like hardcore punk.
That should help. Until I listen to the next hardcore album, of course. I should turn this into a film: 50 First Hardcore Punk Albums starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore.
Anyway, with that little bit of amnesia over, the album.
Soldiers are a hardcore band from Long Island in New York, formed in 2006 from the ashes of This Is Hell, Subterfuge, Last Conviction, and The Backup Plan. Following a debut EP in May 2006, this follow-up from December 2007 remains their only full-length album.
And do you know what? It’s good. If anything, it is let down a little by the mix. It often feels like it was recorded with the microphones in the wrong room or facing the wrong way, and the lead vocals are a little hidden in the mix. But otherwise the album is full of energy and contains all the key constituent parts required for a solid hardcore album: punchy bass sound, thrashy guitars with a good mid-range sound, shouty vocals with enthusiastic crowd-fueled choruses.
The songs are also typically and appreciatively short. “Nothing more, nothing less” (track 9) is only 53 seconds long and definitely proves the less is more rule. None of 13 tracks outstay their welcome. They come in, do their job, and they are done!
The only anomaly is the final track, “Living hell” (track 13) which is a rap track. Like, straight-out rap. Not crossover. Rap. I’ll just leave that there. Rap.
Conclusion
Unsurprisingly, given my newly acquired awareness of my love of hardcore punk. I liked this album. With a clearer and more balanced mix it might be better, but as it is, it rocks!
Review score: 90%