CLASSICK OF THE MONTH - MARCH 2018: HARD RESISTANCE - "ENGINE OF HATE"

CLASSICK OF THE MONTH - MARCH 2018:

HARD RESISTANCE - "ENGINE OF HATE" (1997)
(Running time: 39:15 minutes; 11 songs)
("Lost & Found Records"; CD):

Tracklist:
(01.) "OUT OF CREDITS"
(02.) "NEVER GIVE UP"
(03.) "ANGRY MAN"
(04.) "RELEASE THE BRAKES"
(05.) "ON YOUR OWN"
(06.) "WATCH YOUR STEP"
(07.) "PARASITE"
(08.) "SCHOOLDAYS SHOW"
(09.) "DRESSED TO KILL"
(10.) "GREEN"
(11.) "ENGINE OF HATE"

Hey guys, yes, like yesterday announced still today right now and right here coming right in through at ya the ('obligatory') "CLASSICK OF THE MONTH" (introduction'n'tribute) post edition March 2018. This time here and now you get something very special to/for me, one of the bands and the albums that I grew up with and that had a tremendous huge impact on me and my 'socialization' (and this definitely not only music-wise) and a band and an album that's still very important to/for me and also a band and an album that are now for more then twenty years 'proud'n'brave' companions of me, myself and I and also a band and an album that were and still are sort of a defining factor'n'moment of what to/for me Hardcore was, is, and always will be... and by the way, yes, after February 2018 and March 2018 (so far) somehow were only (sort of) Metal and Rock months up here it is maybe also a good time to shake it all up here again... and so enough of the all introducing smalltalk and now what it is all about right now and right here is the 1997 album "ENGINE OF HATE" of/by the belgian Hardcore roughnecks HARD RESISTANCE containing eleven tracks in a running time of 39 minutes and 15 seconds and that was back then released via the infamous "LOST & FOUND RECORDS".

In the 1990's a lot of european Hardcore bands came up with their very own honest and heartfelt interpretation and respectful and proud development of what was once exploding out of New York City what/which was nothing else than the almighty New York Hardcore and especially bands from the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Austria really made names of themselves and left a mark and an impact, bands like BACKFIRE!, RIGHT DIRECTION, DISCIPLINE (who later on should became the best in Oi! we had and thankfully have again around), DEVIATE, the RYKER'S, BRIGHTSIDE, ONLY ATTITUDE COUNTS, SPIDER CREW, BUST THE CHAIN, and many more raised hell and kicked ass and somehow and somewhere and somewhen along the way in the 1990's the term Euro Core was formed or formulated to categorize all this bands under a more or less fitting/matching but anyhow uniting and defining/identifying label to sum them up. How much sense this made or makes is here and now not of any concern, nah, so let's go further on: HARD RESISTANCE I haven't mentioned there above with all the other bands but they were and still are one of my very favorites of all this glorious bands of all in Euro Core and with their absolute masterpiece "ENGINE OF HATE" they gave me one of my all time most favoured abums outta there, definitely. HARD RESISTANCE roar out of/from the city of Antwerp in Belgium and were fromed in 1994 and they released their also damn strong debut album in 1996, titled "IT'S ALL AFROUND", and then in 1997 with their second one "ENGINE OF HATE" they gave us a lifechanging masterpiece, to me as a kid of the 1990's 'ongoingly growing up' on Hardcore, Metal, Crossover, and Punk it was nothing less than this. I was roughly 16 years young when I first listened to it and it totally conquered me in a more than supreme way and now with becoming 37 years old in a few months it still conquers me again and again and time after time. I think that says quite a bit. In 1998 HARD RESISTANCE released their third one, the MCD "PSYCHO TALES" (also damn fucking great), and after this they sort of called it a day for quite a while but nowadays they are back again (also already for some time now) and going strong again with playing live and having also released new albums (fucking great) since then. Good to see that the good guys sometimes come back again.

HARD RESISTANCE play(ed) a tough as nails NYHC born and bred Hardcore style with not much or not often used breaks on board and enriched with a harsh slightly crusty edge to it, in the no prisoners taking constantly forwards whipping approach of the songs, and all flavoured with an also slightly metallic taste and spirit, in the massively to all devastating heavyness of the musick, to it all. So, yes, HARD RESISTANCE served us a slightly crusty and metallic version of NYHC inspired Euro Core that was and still is today pretty to very self-conatined and 'independently' in its very own identity and unique character. Any sort of cheesy or catchy melody lines or any sort of trendy and/or corny gimmicks you simply won't find here, no bullcrap and false fake ass shit, hell no, instead of this here with HARD RESISTANCE's "ENGINE OF HATE" you got and still get the REAL DEAL in form/shape of highest intensity, high octane energy, no holds barred power, and sheer pure impact and full force, hell yeahr, and this non stopp and without end. Straight and direct in your face hammered songs full of authentic attitude, honest emotions, and real groundshaking heavyness and intensity, and yes, this was and is and will always be what Hardcore was meant to be at very first and will be also be meant to be exactly this. The guys knew what they had to do and what they wanted to do and so they did, and even when mostly all the songs rage on and heavy in a massively stunning up paced way they always managed to work some strong breaks, great twists'n'turns, and in general re-/upfreshing moments and elements into it all to shake it all up again and again and keeping it so all 'alive' and fresh while maintaining the incredible high and forceful intensity all the time and I always loved and still love the powerful onward slashing arranged verses as well as the mighty and full force refrains and not to talk about the devastating grooves (and also the in exactly this very way in general done rhythm work), oh yes, this was and is and will always be purest platinum from 1997 on up to the end of time(s). Harsh roaring lead vocals, full'n'loud gang back ups, devastating guitars, a roaring bass, and smashing drumming make the musick of HARD RESISTANCE "ENGINE OF HATE" and the title is sort of the 'program' that made and still makes the agenda. Outspoken and direct lyrics, a fantastic artwork, and a still today dirty and heavy production sound used to round it all up and still do so today. Each single song is a fantastic slasher and Hardcore at its very, very best, then and now, and so I could calmly and easily spare me any listening tipps for you but so I won't do because if you want to know my total and absolute über-favorites then here they come, oh yes, first and foremost the massive and ultra-heavy titletrack "ENGINE OF HATE" itself, and then the bitter and pissed off "ANGRY MAN", "SCHOOLDAYS SHOW", "NEVER GIVE UP", "GREEN", the programmatically "RELEASE THE BRAKES", and the stunning "ON YOUR OWN", yes, songs I simply sort of can't live without since 1997 like with the whole album, HARD RESISTANCE's "ENGINE OF HATE", one phenomenal piece of musick and Hardcore the most supreme way - then and now.

From my point of view HARD RESISTANCE's groundbreaking masterpiece "ENGINE OF HATE" is a especially today far too often overlooked and forgotten absolutely supreme and superior album and sort of a crowning album in the history of Hardcore in general and in particular in the history of european Hardcore and especially in Euro Core and personally for me, oh man, this band and especially this album meant and still means and surely sort of forever will mean so incredible much to/for me and the memories this songs bring up in me, all the good friends back then, the damn good times, yes, all this just so damn fantastic memories... oh damn it, I slowly but steady grow old with feelings of nostalgia popping up in my mind when I listen to certain songs and albums, hell man, but I think that's maybe just how things go when you suddenly realize that you have a real and proper biography yourself for quite some time now (if you get what I mean) and so it's probably nothing to worry to much about, hahaha. ;-) And this takes anyhow anyway also nothing away from this superior album and to anyone into Hardcore (Punk) who still really doesn't know HARD RESISTANCE and their "ENGINE OF HATE" I hope I helped to change this with this tribute article a bit and maybe I manged to make you curious for/of it and you finally change this with finally buying it (you should get it for pretty to very low prices this days on the second hand market) and I just would wish that I succeeded in paying my heartfelt and honest tribute to this to/for me damn great and important band and this absolutely amazing fantastic album in a proper way. And then I will now leave you with recommending highly and strongly to get this album and with wishing you a good night and then tomorrow may all you guys have a joyful easter(n)-weekend. Next week (at least probably) we will read us again up here. HARDCORE!!! FIST!!!

HARD RESISTANCE - "ENGINE OF HATE" (1997) ///the complete album\\\