This Is Menace, three words that have been floating round the British hardcore underground scene for many months. But with little solid information and much rumour I wondered if they really existed at all. Well, now this band of awesome individuals has broken cover, and with a thunderous roar.

Unfortunately a live performance may never occur because this CD comprises of the most fearsome faces in the British hardcore scene. It features vocalists and musicians from the likes of Hundred Reasons, Funeral For A Friend, Sikth, Carcass, Therapy?, Hiding Place, Earthtone 9, and Pitchshifter. Amen’s Casey Chaos even makes an appearance on the track, Incite.

From the offset this is nothing shy of full-on aural warfare, with Dead Man torridly kicking it off and Colin Duran from Hundred Reasons providing vocal noise. From what we are lead to believe J.S. Clayden and fellow Pitchshifter-ette Jason Bowlds have been responsible for providing the soundtrack to these varying vocal assaults. The warfare continues and this is one of the few albums I have ever come across that actually gets progressively heavier throughout…

Personal favourites include The Nameless (featuring Paul Mccallion from Hiding Place) and Onward Christian Soldiers (featuring Jeff Walker from Carcass). The album is one of those you can just put on and listen to all the way through with its diverse musical style and weight (yes folks this is one heavy mother!). The tracks may change in nature but the enraged barrage of vocals, crushing drums and bone-bashing guitars remains intact, making this not only one of the must-have albums of 2005, but a fresh contender for best rock album of the year.

If any of you out there are fans of any of the fine bands mentioned above, and a patron of British hardcore I strongly advice a quick trip to your local record store, followed eventually by an appointment with your GP (which after a few beers and a mosh pit with your mates to this stuff, you will definitely require). Enjoy!

Adrien Perrie

Track listing

Deadman feat. Colin Duran (Hundred Reasons)

Cover Girl Monument feat. Matt Davies (Funeral For A Friend)

Predisposed feat. Justin Hill (Sikth)

Incite feat. Casey Chaos (Amen)

The Nameless feat. Paul Mccallion (Hiding Place)

Onward Christian Soldiers feat. Jeff Walker (Carcass)

F8 feat. Andy Cairns (Therapy?)

Totality feat. Karl Middleton (Earthtone 9)

Dark Matter feat. Mikee Goodman (Sikth)

Displacement feat. Mark Claydon and Jason Bowlds (Pitchshifter)