I was having a conversation the other day with a close friend. We were discussing music, as we normally do, and I started quoting some lyrical excepts from Deep in the Heart. He chuckled and told me that he thought it was kind funny that I listen to "all those tough guy bands," and yet I am such a nice guy. I do see where he is coming from, as I don't think anyone that met me on the street or at work could picture me listening to pissed-off hardcore bands like Pride Kills.
With their debut full-length, Pride Kills continues to write hardcore tunes that take influence from early metallic hardcore. The album's opening cut "Driving On," is a perfect example as it combines Luke Bennett's driving basslines, heavily pounded drums, and crunching guitars provided by the guitar duo of Chris Conflict and Jason Friedman. While the band provides the background music, vocalist Gabe Wells spouts off the thoughts that plague his mind and what keeps him driven to continue on each and every day of his life.
One thing that Wells can depend on is his friends in the G.A.M.C., a close knit community of veteran hardcore guys all over Texas. One those individuals, Rob from Will to Live provides an introduction to "Deep in the Heart," which is fitting when you look at the subject matter of the song. Friedman's wicked guitar solo toward the end of the song adds character. It gives it an early Integrity feel, which is not really a surprise since the band members claim them to be a huge influence.
Pride Kills do attempt to demonstrate that their influences reach beyond the typical list of hardcore bands. With "Love it or Leave It," the band leans toward the early days when hardcore was synonymous with punk. The song is short and dominated by the upfront drum work of Paul Massey. "Think Before You Speak" is another song in which the band branches out their sound. This one brings in oi-punk; it was like being transplanted to the Bay Area of the early 90's. Pride Kills even throws in a little dueling banjos on "Cold and Dead;" never saw that one coming, even from these southerners.
The album's two premier tracks take place towards the end of the album. The first, "Learn Your Lesson," is a reworking of the song "Wall of Backs" from the band's EP. The song contains essentially the same music with a slight reworking, but the lyrics have been changed up dramatically. I personally enjoyed the breakdown at the end as it fits the sing-a-long and "Bust!" perfectly. Following right behind is "The Scene," a song in which Wells mocks those individuals who feel that the hardcore scene revolves around them and that it'd fade away without their presence. I personally got a chuckle out of the following: "I don't care if you don't like my band. / I don't care, because you suck just as bad. / Go fucking die." Sidenote: Wells sounds exactly like the Human Furnace of Ringworm on this cut.
The album does have its less than stellar moments. "Make this Work," "Day by Day," and "Regret" do very little for me in the musical department. They're okay songs, but compared to others on the album, they don't really stand out as anything spectacular. My only real issue deals with the spoken-work introductions. I can understand the first one, but to have another, Ray from Full Blown Chaos on "Git'er Done," seems a little over the top. Not to mention, them dropping their names and bands, just seems a little cliche. If I wanted to know who that voice was I'd read the liner notes, which concisely lists all contributions.
If you've been paying attention to the lyrics on Deep in the Heart, you may have noticed that the topics they cover are rather unique to hardcore. Sure there are those that deal with the hardcore scene, "Love it or Leave it" and "Think Before You Speak." But Wells also tackles some rather personal topics, "Deep in the Heart" and "Cold and Dead," something a little out of the norm for bands of this style. This is quite refreshing considering the normal output of lyrical content by these types of bands lacks any emotional context.
Texas hardcore is alive and well. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the hardcore scene throughout that immense state is top notch. And with their new full-length, Pride Kills will bring even more attention to a hardcore scene that has staked its claim in the hardcore scene.
