Within hardcore there lies a style of music that has come to known as beatdown. It is an interesting but narrow-minded sub-genre to the whole hardcore realm. Musically, the bands that play this style of music rely heavily on having ridiculously huge breakdowns. I wouldn't be surprised if they wrote the breakdowns first and then surrounded them with the rest of the music for the song. Lyrically, there is a reliance on having a "fuck you" attitude. So when you partner those two together, the scope of what comes of this sub-genre is going to be rather limited.
On a Warpath is the band's debut full-length in re-released form; it was originally put out on Mike Hood's Westcoast World Wide label earlier this year. Over the course of the nine tracks, On a Warpath serve up morsel after morsel of in your face hardcore. The music is modern hardcore at its very core, but there is a lot of metal and thrash influences in the songs as well. Songs like "Restoration" and "Cut 'em Off" have some serious breakdowns that no doubt incite riot-like conditions on the dance floor. But where On a Warpath are at their best is when they abandon the use of slow-churning riffs and mix things up by throwing in up-tempo breaks that are perfect for two-steppin' - "Don't Let their Memories Fade" exhibits this technique perfectly. I'd like to see the band incorporate more of these fast parts in their songwriting as opposed to the slow-moving chug-chug riffs, which drag things out a bit too much.
Lyrically, not much really separates On a Warpath from the likes of other bands that play this style. There is plenty - that's probably an understatement - of shit-talk in the lyrics, not to mention the banter that takes place in the intro track and prior to the countless breakdowns dispersed throughout the album. I don't hate it per say, I think it adds to the persona of the music just fine. Just at times, the things said are a little over the top and come across as a bit ridiculous. Hopefully, none of these guys take this criticism to heart as I one-day hope to move to the Bay Area, and I don't want a target on my head.
If you fancy the heavier side of hardcore, then picking up On a Warpath really is a no-brainer decision for you. I'd recommend this disc to the Ozzfest crowd currently hyped on Hatebreed and Bury Your Dead as well as the more DIY-minded kids that go ape for Hoods and Will to Live.
