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people may have been shocked by the sound source that has already been distributed. It is not D-BEAT only, nor FAST/POWER VIOLENCE, but a hardcore sound built with a variety of riffs and rhythms. And vocalist Kristine's versatile style makes a tremendous impact. Although there are various approaches to hardcore, this work was created by greedily continuing to input, and can be said to be the end of the evolution of modern hardcore.
A tour of Japan has also been decided for October 2024. Please look forward to the accelerating activities starting with the release of the album.
Our take: Los Angeles’s SOH follow up 2022’s Life in Edge EP with their first full-length record, showcasing their musical chops and forging a path that’s totally punk but also fully unique. SOH doesn’t sound like anyone else out there, and while you can hear antecedents in their galloping d-beat rhythms, metallic riffing, and charismatic vocals, it all comes together into the band’s distinctive sound. Part of what defines that sound is its eclecticism. You never know what SOH is going to throw at you next, and each song offers something new, whether it’s a different rhythm from the drummer, a new style of riffing, some bubbly bass lines, or a new vocal technique that you haven’t heard on a previous track. It feels like SOH took pains to make sure they weren’t just writing the same song over and over, with each one adding something distinct to the band’s oeuvre. This means the record is full of highlights, and if you get hooked, for instance, by the crazy demon vocals on the second verse of “Walang Paglaya” or the reverbed-out East Bay Ray guitar stylings in “Annihilate,” the band won’t beat you to death with that idea for the rest of the record. SOH’s vocalist is a total chameleon, using everything from shouts to screams to grunts to speak-singing to keep every moment on Cost to Live fresh and exciting. Much like the record’s eye-catching artwork, Cost to Live is fully thought-through but not belabored, holding itself to a high standard of originality and execution without losing the rawness and personality you want from underground punk.