Metal Reviews
Metal Reviews
PROPAIN |
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a game, now it’s a war, we’re not ashamed to want some more…” Truer sentiments were never more forcefully exacted as leadoff track “Stand Tall” blasts through the speakers from Propain’s punishing sixth effort “Act of God.” Proving to be no less severe than its predecessors, the band, fresh from their recent signing with Nuclear Blast America, brutalizes through twelve tracks sure to leave their mark on even the most trained listeners of the N.Y.H.C. scene. Other noteworthy societal-bashing dictums include, in no particular order, “In for the Kill,” “Act of God,” “Burn,” and “F.S.U.” (‘fuck shit up’!), and epitomize the traditionally angry vocal style of veteran vocalist Gary Meskil. As in the past, this new one typically offers just a little more than a quick nod toward 80’s style metal and thrash that sets Propain apart from the usual street-wise wankers barking their ass off about some hardship or another. This is easily the most well written and authoritative Propain disc yet. “Act of God” is another must have for fans driven by honesty, integrity and brutality that first grew up in the roots of Hardcore music but it’ll also be frightfully listenable to others who still carry a propensity for those crucial metal riffs and speed-driven guitar solos. When many groups tend to find it hard to live up to the impact of their previous successes—assuming they made an impact in the first place—Propain yet again stands tall and proves readily up to the task. Released on Nuclear Blast, Hauptstrasse 109. 73 072, Donzdorf. Germany Website : http://www.nuclearblast.de Email: death@nuclearblast.de Review by Vinnie Apicella |
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Road Rage Propain |
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It's a damn good thing this band's music can stand on its own cause there ain't much accompaniment to this live tour recording-about four live action shots, roll the credits and let 'er rip! One of NY's finest have been doin' just that since they started, a model of concussive consistency that grooves, grinds and gut-check's ya to the floor from first note to last! The recording buzzes with a burly production effort, hollow sounding and true, a deafeningly triumphant thud captured from their Tampa gig back on the "Act of God" tour a while back, and Meskil's voice, not something you'd necessarily want echoing in your head for any given length, is typically furious, the band, dead on-and let's face it, no one manhandles the riff better than these four guys. Hard-Core rage undercut with traditionally Metal groove, theirs is a fall-between style that borders on both, yields to neither and builds a head of steam in mere seconds-no heightened melodramatics, preachiness, bold predictions or ego-trip, only balls out battle hardened blue-print, boot-print heavy Rock machinations moving along like an eighteen wheeler down that frozen mid-winter highway that always keeps ya on the edge with one eye in front, one behind, white-knuckled and anxious! All the old favorites are here-from the "Foul Taste of Freedom" debut to '98s "Act of God," and in fact dropping down the set list, their songs are short, but even at three minutes per, the seventeen tracks still'd clock in over two sweat-soaked and deafening hours! They blast through the well worn classics-"Stand Tall," Life's Hard," "Get Real," in the early going before introducing the slammin' "Act of God" which almost had me throwin' down a few elbows and boots to my more than accommodating office chair… ergonomics my ass, I'd like to hurl it out the window… And so goes my mood while the mosh-worthy "Smokin' Gun" goes off in the background. There ain't a lot to figure out with Propain, no song by song analysis required… they're aimed and ready tune after tune, packing the usual wallop, yer basic chord crunching, loud, fast, aggressive no rules four point offensive stance, violently ecstatic and proud to be what they are. Released by Spitfire
Records. Review by Vinnie
Apicella [va85@columbia.edu] |
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"Shreds Of Dignity" Propain |
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Heavy Metal freedom fighters Propain let another one loose in typically toxic fashion and ten years strong still manage to keep their "dignity" in tact. There's been no looking back since the days of "Foul Taste Of Freedom" first burned a hole in the Hard-Core scene. Following up on last year's
monstrous "Road Rage" live disc, "Shreds
Of Dignity" could Their lyrical proficiency at an all time high, "Shreds" reaches deep into the well where tradition and temperament collide in a rising force of anger and vigilance, which for them yields an even bigger significance in the wake of 9/11. Meskil's voice is barely audible
two songs in, blown completely away by some of their fastest riffing
yet. His first real "appearance" takes place on their anthemic
highlight for a lowlight in American history, "Down For The
Cause," where his trademark banter is in The record goes by quickly-most of their tracks are of an expected three minutes or less in length and they're none too modest about getting their point across. While listeners might miss a little of the usual hook, they'll surely be awed by the all out speed and Mosh-like sincerity that follows the behind the lines bombast of the title track, "No Way Out," and "F.O.A.D." ("Fuck Off and Die"). About seventy percent clocks in at a blistering pace, the rest falls in with their all-powerful three-chord threat and heavy riffing. Yet another notch in the belt for one of HC's finest-as if there were any doubt before, this time, pride, power and justice have everything to do with it! Released by Spitfire Records. Review by Vinnie Apicella [va85@columbia.edu] P.O. Box 20252
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