My roommate likes to call early 90's hardcore "The Dark Ages of Hardcore" with its metal influences, all the way to the left neo-hippie politics, poetic non-sense, and mosh parts. In many way he's right, but the beginning part of the 90's wasn't all bad and we got some great bands like Undertow, Unbroken, Integrity, Indecision, and others that start with vowels. New York's Invade draws heavily from the bands listed above, and by the lyrics they surely recall the politics.
I personally love early 90's hardcore. It's what I grew up on and what brought me into the hardcore scene, for better or worse. So I like Invade's demo although there is nothing that really stands out for me. It rumbles and plods along at an angry pace. It's moshy but not anything that would clear the floors. Invade really shows off its prowess with "Pawn to Bishop, then to King;" the song has a great grove, the guitars crunch, and the drums are off-timed but powerful. There's even a hardcore talking part. Sweet.
If Invade keep it together and work out a few kinks they could a force to be reckon with. It's great to see new bands remember that hardcore is supposed to mean something and not just a soundtrack for moshing. 90's hardcore and bands like Invade may be a bit heavy handed in their politics and beliefs but at least it's better than bunch of pansies on stage throwing their guitar around for 40 minutes and screaming about their ex-girlfriends.
