CLASSICK OF THE MONTH - JULY 2018: RINGWORM - "JUSTICE REPLACED BY REVENGE"

CLASSICK OF THE MONTH - JULY 2018:

RINGWORM - "JUSTICE REPLACED BY REVENGE" (2005)
(Running time: 27:47 minutes; 13 songs)
("Victory Records"; CD):

Tracklist:
(I.)      "JUSTICE REPLACED BY REVENGE"
(II.)     "NO ONE DIES ALONE"
(III.)    "SEEING THROUGH THESE EYES"
(IV.)    "HOUSE OF HELL"
(V.)      "DAY OF TRUTH"
(VI.)     "WHISKEY DRUNK"
(VII.)   "GOD EAT GOD"
(VIII.)  "GHOSTS OF THE PAST"
(IX.)     "THRIVE"
(X.)      "DEVIL'S KISS"
(XI.)    "DEATH IS NOT AN OPTION"
(XII.)   "NO MORE HEROES"
(XIII.)  "LIFE AFTER THE END OF THE WORLD"

Hey guys, yes, here it finally comes and this by still far sooner than (at least) the last two posts of/in this posting-series named the "CLASSICK(S) OF THE MONTH" and of course am I talking here and now about the "JULY 2018" edition and this is a tribute to one of the greatest albums and bands outta there and a true classick in my book: RINGWORM's "JUSTICE REPLACED BY REVENGE", released via "VICTORY RECORDS" back then in 2005 on CD (pretty sure on LP as well). And, just in case, if you ever wanted to know how authentic and honest pure hatred and heartfelt disgust for this godforsaken world would sound like, hell yeahr, don't look any further, yes, because here's your perfect answer, yes, here's the perfect definition. So, okay, now let us have a more precise and detailed look at RINGWORM and especially at their almighty masterpiece "JUSTICE REPLACED BY REVENGE".

RINGWORM were formed'n'founded back then in 1990 in Cleveland, Ohio/U.S.A. by their singer/vocalist (or better vokillist) James Bulloch (nicknamed "The Human Furnace"...) and their guitarist Frank Novinec (nicknamed "3 Gun"...) who should later on leave RINGWORM and then one day finally join TERROR and in 1991 they released their self-titled demo that should finally/eventually lead to their first record-deal with "INCISION RECORDS" via which in 1993 their full-length-debut "THE PROMISE" was released. But soon after this RINGWORM decided to went seperate ways before reuiniting in 1995 to playing finally some long awaited live shows over here in Europe before then finally in 1998 reuniting in a proper way again and still being very active also today. They hailed from Cleveland, like already mentioned above, and this in combination with the fact that they, that RINGWORM played'n'play nothing else and especially nothing less than damn fucking Hardcore should already tell you what RINGWORM deliver us, yes, exactly: Clevocore and this means at the end of the day harsh and devastating Metallic Hardcore of that very unique and special kind better known as the almighty Holy Terror Hardcore, oh yes, and RINGWORM own a very strongly leading role in the world of Hardcore in general and when it comes to Holy Terror Hardcore in particular they are only second to the almighty godfathers INTEGRITY themselves that are also known as the inventors of Holy Terror Hardcore. Devastating and crushing, blackened and thrashing Metal ingredients melted perfectly and fluently together with atomizing and brutal Hardcore and this in an 'accentuating-way' so that the Metal marks are always there in sort of an 'enriching-manner' but the Hardcore elements always strongly and clearly lead the way and to show you a first way to understand Clevocore and/or Holy Terror Hardcore you throw THE EXPLOTED, EXODUS, VENOM, POSSESSED, CELTIC FROST, DISCHARGE, NUCLEAR ASSAULT, and MOTÖRHEAD into the mix with diabolical and sinister and damn black and harsh aggressive Hardcore and you should have a pretty good first impression of what Clevocore and/or Holy Terror Hardcore at its very core was/is and on what/which especially INTEGRITY and RINGWORM ongoingly develop and build and create their very unique and massively enriched and cultivated very own style'n'sound. And RINGWORM's "JUSTICE REPLACED BY REVENGE" is only further proof for this what I've said so far here and now, yes, and here's why…

..."JUSTICE REPLACED BY REVENGE" is marked by a massive straight forward pushing 'onslaughtering' approach of über-harsh and ultra-heavy done'n'delivered and arranged'n'composed songwriting that's under or maybe better beneath the straight'n'harsh'n'direct axe-swinging surface despise or in contrast of/to the fast paced, straight ahead thundering, slaying and thrashing, blackened and also Punk fueled direction of the songs incredible multi-facetted and diverse and highly atmospheric and above all incredible and breath-taking intense and that delivers from start to finish absolutely rich and all the time amazingly stunning, crushing and absolutely atomizing songs that totally kill non stopp and this without taking prisoners and/but instead of this only collecting trophies and that's one hell of an intense, exciting, and grapping ride all along the dusty and by bloody cadavers marked road. Hyper-aggressive screamed and shouted lead vocals, skull-cracking and bone-smashing über-brutal and ultra-intense guitar work, yes, and a bombing rhythm section are the rich'n'nutrious ingredients with which RINGWORM craft their truly apocalyptic anthems and this on a fucking damn high level of skills and quality and with an absoultely unique and stand-alone character. Any first-listening-recommendations? Ha, forget it, , yes, because all songs are purest platinum and, yes, absolutely timeless and today as fantastic, as intense, and as relevant as 13 years ago, if not even more. Thoughtful and thought-provoking, and very good lyrics, a gorgeous artwork, and a battle-scarred harsh and heavy production-sound then finally round RINGWORM's "JUSTICE REPLACED BY REVENGE" perfectly up. Anyone into really and truly honest, heartfelt, and authentic really intense, heavy, harsh, extreme, aggressive, and nicely clichée-free musick and surely especially with a faible for slaying Hardcore and also thrashing Metal with a real and true sinister, nihilistic, and apocalyptic mind-set definitely and desperately needs to know and hail RINGWORM and also needs to have and own RINGWORM's "JUSTICE REPLACED BY REVENGE" and this very one here is nothing but one of my all time favorites, point and fact. Enough said, yes, you should know what to do anyhow anyway, period. HARDCORE!!! FIST!!!

RINGWORM - "JUSTICE REPLACED BY REVENGE" (2005, "JUSTICE REPLACED BY REVENGE")

https://ringworm.bandcamp.com/ (-the link to the bandcamp site of the band)

PS: I've always thought that RINGWORM would be already featured up here, by the way as well as also ALL OUT WAR, yes, but, hm, it seems that not... maybe I really need to check all the older posts again... because I really could'n'would swear that in cases of both bands I already had them up here… we'll see, maybe, some day… or so.

INTEGRITY - "HOWLING, FOR THE NIGHTMARE SHALL CONSUME" (2017)

INTEGRITY - "HOWLING, FOR THE NIGHTMARE SHALL CONSUME"
(Running time: 57:37 minutes; 14 songs)
("Relapse Records"; 2017; CD):

I think I've already mentioned one or two times before that 2017 was a very, very strong year music-wise, at least so in my book, and that it also saw the return of the almighty INTEGRITY is only one more further proof for/of my statement. 'Today' for the first time (ever) via the legendary "RELAPSE RECORDS" the outstanding INTEGRITY released their newest gem "HOWLING, FOR THE NIGHTMARE SHALL CONSUME" at the 14th of July of 2017 and it is (so I think) the successor album to/of "SUICIDE BLACK SNAKE" from 2013 (don't ask, I still don't know it so far... shame on me) but in my case it is finally my first 'meeting' with them again since their (al)mighty "THE BLACKEST CURSE" killer (from 2010) that I seven years... or so... ago also reviewed up here. Since then a lot of various records in different formats had been released by INTEGRITY but due to 'troublesome real life stuff'n'issues' most of them went under my radar (so far) and I know it (by) myself so you don't have to say it... shame on me... But anyhow, because finally in 2017 I managed to get my hands on INTEGRITY's newest offering "HOWLING, FOR THE NIGHTMARE SHALL CONSUME" already last summer pretty soon when it was released back then and this totally mindblowing fantastic masterpiece absolutely 'consumed' me, it conquered me and it 'kept me conquered' up to this present day since then. To or for me INTEGRITY were always and still are one of the very best (if not sort of the best) and also one of the most unique and inspiring as well as influential Hardcore bands ever outta there and of an importance of a far wider (out)reaching kind than solely being just a Hardcore 'thing'. They were and still are sort of an absolutely lifechanging importance to/for me in a lot if not (nearly) all ways and meanings. My first experience with INTEGRITY was way, far way back in 1995 with their absolute groundbreakers and total lifechangers "SYSTEMS OVERLOAD" and "HUMANITY IS THE DEVIL", two albums that will forever rank up high on my larger than life albums list, and in 1997 with "SEASONS IN THE SIZE OF DAYS" they absolutely conquered their crown and throne and both they maintain unrivaled up to this day and age and present day. And in 2017 they are finally back again and serve us this outstanding piece of art that "HOWLING, FOR THE NIGHTMARE SHALL CONSUME" totally is. I am absolutely blown away again and again by this masterpiece every time I put it on, again and again, and all the time. This is once in Cleveland born'n'based'n'raised metallic Hardcore fueled by blasphemic/satanic and nihilstic rage and energy without end and sheer 'atomizingly' harsh exploding dynamics and sheer 'ultra-violent' force that absolutely takes no prisoners, no, not a single bit, not a single one, and that simply conquers everything and anything by storm and that especially outshines all and everything with its tight, dense, very sinister and diabolic and nihilstic atmosphere and its massively mindblowing and worldshattering and definitely larger than life overwhelming intensity that marks it all in a very, very immense and stunning way. All is done and delivered by highest skilled musicians via phenomenal outstanding songwriting that is not only larger than life 'overwhelmigly' intense and mercylessly heavy and tough as nails harsh but also incredible diverse and highly varying and all is also massively 'rich' in every meaning(s) and so on "HOWLING, FOR THE NIGHTMARE SHALL CONSUME" the almighty INTEGRITY work (and this in an impressive smooth flowing way without any sort of breaks or holes or any blank space/-s in the song-architecture/-s) not only massive(ly) Metal elements and influences and impressions into their absolutely unique metallic Hardcore musick, first and foremost especially Thrash Metal but also Black Metal and Death Metal marks are clearly to be found and also sometimes bigger, sometimes smaller Doom (Metal) inspirations crush right out of the speakers and overwhelm you instantly and totally, but also traditional Heavy Metal and classic Hard Rock elements (especially in the guitar leads and the harmony and melody lines in general this influences very or pretty often shine bright but also in the rhythm structures this impressions can be found) and even Blues and Country just wait to be discovered here on INTEGRITY's "HOWLING, FOR THE NIGHTMARE SHALL CONSUME", oh bloody hell yeahr, and also the more or less for INTEGRITY typical 'classical/traditional' (slightly) Industrial marks rage one more time again beneath the surface of it all, yes, and also every resistance down hammering Hardcore Punk roots that are still very alive and well you will find en masse on and in it all here. The foundation clearly is very unique and sinister, evil, harsh, heavy, intense, crushing, and fast raging, very fresh and totally alive/lively done metallic Hardcore (some may call it Metalcore, okay, but personally I wouldn't do so, but okay...) but or and from this foundation on so incredible more is happening and going on on here, hell yes, INTEGRITY will leave your mind absouletyl blown (out) and your eyes and mouth wide open while your ears ring in constant excitement and hellish pleasure. All is without regrets and without mercy pushed forward by the intense and absolutely unique and charismatic hellish screamed and throaty'n'harsh shouted 'all-out-war-blasted' lead vocals of/by the legendary Dwid Hellion himself, the devastating crushing guitars, and the smashing and thunderous/thundering rhythm section, yes, and all done on one hell of an impressive level of skills and identity. To name any bands to compare INTEGRITY with makes no real sense after all because INTEGRITY pretty much were the first and still are the best and the greatest of'n'in their style but for example a great band like the mighty RINGWORM (and so many others more) would not exist or would not be around the way they are around without INTEGRITY, point and fact. This is HOLY TERROR HARDCORE of and at its very, very, very best!!! The whole album is incredible rich and more than 'just' great and in all honesty it's (nearly) perfect, yes, from start to finish, yes, and so I spare me the mentioning of any sort of personal favorite tracks because you definitely need to experience INTEGRITY's "HOWLING, FOR THE NIGHTMARE SHALL CONSUME" in all its larger than life glory. Fantastic lyrics, an outstanding gorgeous artwork, and a blasting'n'bombing production sound finally round it all up, yes, it's (at least nearly/almost) perfect, period. INTEGRITY's "HOWLING, FOR THE NIGHTNARE SHALL CONSUME" is an absolutely phenomenal and amazing album and one of the very, very best (and most unique) ones of 2017 and surely in years as well as for years to come, oh yes, and if I would have done a more sort of my 'traditional' year-retrospections on 2017 then you would find INTEGRITY's "HOWLING, FOR THE NIGHTMARE SHALL CONSUME" definitely in my personal top five (if not even in my personal top three) list. Okay, so I think now you should know all what you need to know so far and my last words here and now are that anyone and everybody only slightly into extreme (Hardcore) musick really have to know and own this absolutely mindblowing larger than life masterpiece. HARDCORE!!! FIST!!!
(10 of 10 points)
https://integrity.bandcamp.com/ (- the link to the Bandcamp site of the band)

INTEGRITY - "DIE WITH YOUR BOOTS ON" (2017, "HOWLING, FOR THE NIGHTMARE SHALL CONSUME")