The DevilsHorns

A mere 18 years after their debut album, Aussie crossover outfit, No Apologies have released their sophomore album, Life. It is an aggressive slab of good old-fashioned hardcore riffs with the sensibility of thrash thrown into the heady mix. If you think Biohazard crossed with Bay Area thrash outfits (not the Big 4 bands), then you will have an idea of what the 10 track, 31 ½ minute album will slug you with.

…and Life really will slap you about. Its content is intense, the album is described as being, ‘journey through the depths of existence, a narrative
woven with threads of mortality, acceptance, and resilience’. It is deeply personal and this, coupled with the natural aggression of the genre is what really hits home. An album trait that begins with the excellent opening track, ‘Womb / Birth’.

grizzly guitar tone that would scare-off bears. It is a good listen that is followed by a Biohazard style 3^rd track, ‘Time’. I love Biohazard and it is a good thing I do, as this is the song they never sang. One of the longer tracks on the album, it allows itself to break out into a really good headbanging riff.

Good stuff guys… good stuff.

The stand-out track, however, is a far slower, more sedate affair, and it is perhaps the most powerful song on the album. ‘Palliative Tomb’ allows Abordito show the softer side of his voice, accompanying the acoustic guitar before it explodes into big riffs and harder vocals. It splits the album well, and it is a welcome break from the hardcore carnage served up everywhere else.

It isn’t just Biohazard the boys give a nod to. ‘Hollow’ has a riff with more crunch to it than before, almost Prong like in parts, which is no bad thing. Another strong track is, ‘Eternal’. Less than a minute long, it is short, abrupt, but crucially, good. The longest track, ‘Peace’ closes Life and it brings the album to a well-earned, successful conclusion.

It is fair to say that No Apologies are not a modern hardcore band. Their approach is timeless. They lean on influences and allow the listener to explore their songs, no matter how short they are. It is an album that deserves your attention, and at a little over half an hour long, it won’t take up too much of your time. There, I’ve written this with absolutely no puns made about their name. I off absolutely no apologies pointing this out.

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