Long Island's road warriors return with their second full-length, Misfortunes, laying waste to a host of notions about who they are and what they stand for. The ante has been upped, so bid in or bow out.
Dogged by claims of being both a hype band, existing on word of mouth rather than talent, and a Trustkill marketing move, This is Hell is biting with those same fangs that we've seen snarl on previous releases. Are they fighting back the naysayers and Internet shit talkers? No, rather than lowering themselves to the level of those with loose tongues, they opt for the offense, plowing through thirteen songs with anger, misanthropy, and rage far beyond anything you'd seen from them before.
While the rhythm of the Misfortunes is less varied than Sundowning, the songwriting is both beefier and more technical. This is what separates them from the multitude of other bands existing, solidifying them as a dominant force in this era of hardcore music. Combining the speed and groove of New York hardcore bands while blending it with the melody and riffing of metal acts like Metallica and Megadeth, This is Hell have taken everything great from the aggressive music of the eighties and revamped it for new millennium.
Lyrically it's the typical content for this genre, though of a greater caliber rather than a battery of fuck you's for all the backstabbing songs. While the lyrics are strong, they are a notch below those of Jeff Tiu, former lyricist and bass player. The images are strong, but they lack the cadence and urgency found on Sundowning.
While they are a Trustkill act, the loss of proverbial chugga chugga riffs and mosh for the sake of mosh parts proves they are not and never were a metalcore outfit. They may give nods to metal, but they are by no means metalcore. Think Leeway for the modern man. They have also rid themselves of that ill-conceived comparison to American Nightmare. While it's a comparison to wear proudly it simply doesn't apply. Both the scope of lyrics and music shows that the two bands follow two different trajectories. If a comparison is needed though, Misfortunes is essentially Holding This Moment for those whose glasses are always half-empty. The riffs are raging and the sentiments are seething, but the songs are about survival in some serious times.
