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What’s up Sorry Staters?
I wish I had more to mention on the personal front, but I’m just gonna dive right in: I’ve been noticing that during the time Scarecrow was outta town for tour there have been several new releases we’ve stocked that I didn’t even notice. I feel like a fool! Somehow, the fact that Personal Damage had already released their 3rd tape and that we already had copies in stock at Sorry State totally breezed right past me. I think Sorry State has had them available through the distro since July, so maybe my excitement will be old news for some of y’all. No surprise, this new tape Violent Ritual fuckin’ RIIIIIPPPS. I loved Personal Damage’s first tape (later released on flexi) so much. And I wouldn’t say that they lost me exactly with their 2nd tape Ambush, but even though I liked it okay, I honestly didn’t like it quite as much. This new tape knocked my socks off though! The title track kicks in so immediate with energy. Some America’s Hardcore-style riffing and snarling attitude. It’s funny man, America’s Hardcore only has 3 studio recordings released on a few compilations, but they’re still such an important reference point for me when you’re talking ripping ass California hardcore. But anyway, this time around, the band’s sense of melody and songwriting does kinda remind me of some New England hardcore like The Freeze. I love the last 2 songs, “Rise And Fall” and “Banned From Society,” which have these catchy call-and-response backup vocals. I think if other hardcore bands tried to incorporate these kinds of vocals, it might come across like “hard” or like cheesy gang vocals, but with Personal Damage, I don’t get that impression. The dudes doing background vocals sound more like a snotty crew of drunks in the background, and the chanting just takes the songs to another level and only makes the choruses more memorable. 5 blistering songs of tight yet sloppy hardcore leaves you broken and battered in just under 6 minutes. Killer.
Short and sweet, just like this tape. Like hardcore? You should probably get this Personal Damage. Anyway, that’s all I’ve got. As always, thanks for reading.
‘Til next week,
-Jeff