Essentially, there are two types of hardcore bands. The first gravitates towards kids who are really into hardcore. The second is enjoyed by casual hardcore fans. Then there are the bands that fit in both categories (Terror, American Nightmare, etc.) Although this is This Is Hell's first release, a demo/EP, all the ingredients are present for This Is Hell to become a band that fits in both said categories.
This Is Hell is like that burrito that you eat everytime you go to your local taqueria. For you East Coast readers, burritos are a good thing, and taquerias are a place where you purchase these good things. The basic foundations of the burrito are there: tortilla, beans and rice. This can be heard with the driving rock force present in all the four songs, similar to that of The Suicide File. All the instruments sound real tight, with that urgent hardcore energy present. Maybe it's just the strained vocals, but I'm reminded of early American Nightmare. It's a really raw sound that is polished...Yes, polished like a well done tortilla.
Another critical part, similar to cheese being melted, is the lyrical content. Let's look at a few excerpts! "Heaven sent Hell bound," "Sleepwalk your days, daydream your nights." Both have that kind of parallel thing going on, very memorable and fun to sing along with. It's similar to American Nightmare, but the songs lyrically are much shorter, and not as much detail is given. This is neither good nor bad, just different. An interesting idea that Travis (singer/lyric d00d) did was write a song after reading a letter written in a war from a husband to a wife. It's dramatic without going melodramatic.
For the fans of sour cream, avocado/guacamole and other extras that make a good burrito great, This Is Hell contains all those extras that make a band "crucial." By the way, once again for you East Coasters, an avocado is a fruit that is used in Mexican dishes. Back to the extras packed into this record: hey now! You got your breakdowns, your two steps, sing-alongs, guitar solos, and song explanations. If these were taken away, at its core, This Is Hell would still be solid. But it's these condiments that really make you smile when you get bad gas the next day.
Rating this for what it is, a demo/first release: wow! Hopefully This Is Hell will grow on their next album into something post crucial. But motherfucking god damn, this is sweet...like a burrito...coated in honey and high fructose corn syrup.
