After having put out their EP “Blind Heart” earlier this year on Facedown Records, hardcore-band Poured Out are back with their debut full-length album “To the Point of Death”. The album is mixed by Josh Schroeder at Random Awesome Studios and the cover artwork is done by Slipknot’s Jay Weinberg.
The album kicks you right where it hurts immediately from the start. ‘Dementia’ is a raw and furious hardcore track. Poured Out also uses some chaotic elements on this album that touch the math-core genre from time to time. The songs are relatively short as we are used to in hardcore. But all with such a high energy that it all s just right. The longest track, the last one, however is still 4:37 minutes.
‘Silhouette of Grief’ is a pure example of the passion what hardcore is all about, with some breakdowns and spoken word, followed by ‘Apathy Nothing’ where the vocals remind me of label mates Those Who Fear. This song is packed full of up-tempo rhythms and a solo that is off-note and it fits in very well.
Poured Out has really matured in their sound as compared to the “Bind Heart” EP. The overall compositions are more intricate and furious as shown/heard in the sixth song ‘5-101’. (Interesting title by the way, I am really curious what it stands for).
‘Weeping…’ is some sort of heavy menacing interlude, followed by the eighth track ‘ …And Gnashing of Teeth’ that begins with bass and rhythmic spoken word. It borders a bit to rap. Man, can a song get more heavy? ‘Remember Me’ is again a more up-tempo song and it is a welcome variety at this point. The song goes up and down in terms of tempo. I will remember it for sure. At the end the spoken word says: “Is it possible that there are no coincidences?” I think so….
‘Fear Tactics’ is just an awesome song. And ‘Humankind Suicide’ is the shortest real track with 1:50 minutes, they also shot a video for this track. You can check it out at the end of this review.
The album rages forth with the title-track ‘To The Point Of Death’ which has all the aforementioned elements. And then it is time for the thirteenth, and last, track ‘Victim of My Own Hate’, this song is full of math-core elements combined together with classic hardcore. Now that I think of it, this album also has some metalcore influences. They take a bit of different hardcore related styles and they mix it to their own unique, heavy, blend. The last sentence is a good conclusion I think, I feel that they have really grown since “Blind Heart” and if you are into hardcore with a twist you should check them out.
Rating: 8/10
Written by: René Woning
Tracklist:
1. Dementia (2:52)
2. Enslavement to the Substance (3:15)
3. Silhouette of Grief (3:51)
4. Apathy Nothing (3:14)
5. Arrogance (2:04)
6. 5-101 (3:53)
7. Weeping… (1:28)
8. …And Gnashing of Teeth (3:21)
9. Remember Me (3:02)
10. Fear Tactics (3:07)
11. Humankind Suicide (1:50)
12. To The Point Of Death (2:31)
13. Victim of My Own Hate (4:37)
Band members:
Vocals – Randy Lyvers
Guitar – Ridge Rhine
Bass – Grant Johnstone
Drums – Matt Dooley
Discography:
“Blind Heart” EP (2016) (review)
“To The Point Of Death” (2016)
Record label: Facedown records, October 2016
Buy the album here:
Holland: First Paradox
Norway: Nordic Mission
Video for ‘Enslavement to the Substance’
Video for ‘Humankind Suicide’
Video for ‘Apathy Nothing’