Harm's Way-Isolation

Closed Casket Activities
2011

Once upon a time hardcore and heavy metal were separated living on opposite sides of the tracks.Before bands like C.O.C., D.R.I. and S.O.D. made crossover an acceptable term most real hardcore bands wouldn't be caught dead adding metal riffs to their sound. It was actually acts like the Cro-Mags, Gang Green and Murphy's Law that pushed the envelope and here is where you find Chicago, IL act Harm's Way living. Having released their "No Gods No Masters" 7" EP last year on Closed Casket Activities Harm's Way has built up a loyal following thanks to their heavy touring. The group toured all over the U.S. this past year with the likes of Foundation, Backtrack, Xibalba, Expire and Venia. They have appeared in Europe with the groups Nails and Rise and Fall as well as having made appearances at hardcore festivals such as Sound and Fury, Rain Fest and United Blood. Recorded with Andy Nelson of Weekend Nachos at Bricktop Studios, Isolation offers eight tracks of pure bone breaking metallic hardcore. In Harm's Way offers music that pays homage to the bands that came before them. Not only have the above bands rubbed of on Harm's Way but I heard nods to The Exploited, Black Flag, Melvins, Big Black and Minor Threat. On the more metal side of things there is an unnerving Black Sabbath doom vibe that gives Isolation a dark feel. One could even draw a line to the back bone of Motorhead although Harm's Way prefer to take it more slow and easy then Lemmy and crew. Due to be released on July 5th (CD, LP and digital formats) Isolation is a slab of pure hardcore nastiness.