LIFELESS — Dream

Fast Break! Records presents Dream, the new full-length by New Jersey’s metallic hardcore unit: LIFELESS. Released in the Spring of 2015, Dream is available on 12” vinyl, CD, and digital formats. As history goes, LIFELESS rose from the ashes of Dead and Buried and When These Days End and they’ve been busy recording, playing high profile festivals, touring and even crossing the Atlantic since their inception in 2008. Dream represents the band’s second LP.

From beginning to end, LIFELESS primarily stays in “pissed off as fuck” mode. This is achieved through a relentless assault of chunky metallic guitars (often played at warp speeds), barreling juggernaut drums, and growled vocal stylings, which can only be described as the bastard child of Pantera and Strife. Despite the machine gun pace of the album, there are some brief melodic episodes to temper the fury. Things kick off with “Never,” which surprisingly begins with an ode to Billy Joel’s “The Stranger” (whistling included). Of course that somber little cover intro doesn’t last long before we’re punched in the face by a furious metallic assault to the senses. An aural barrage to inspire windmills, walls of death, circle pits, stage dives and moshing ensues. It’s not till the album’s final track “Reflections II” that we are given a brief moment of respite. The track begin with a melodic intro before descending into chaos once again.

In conclusion, while I admittedly have a sort of love/hate relationship with most modern hardcore, LIFELESS plays with enough brutality and anger to elevate them above a sea of similar bands toiling in this genre. Recommended for those who like their hardcore to sound more like Pantera and less like Minor Threat.