Last year this California five-piece released a heck of a demo tape; one that had me quite excited to hear more from them. Well here we are in 2008 and what I have before me is the brand new 7" from Restrained.
Like their previous release, the songs on this EP are filled with short, raw, and pissed off hardcore punk. Opening cut "Compliant" sets the stage with punishing drumming and crushing guitars while vocalist Kevan belts out some sickening screams. Primarily the songs operate out of the Tragedy-inspired style of punk, but there are flourishes of 90's metallic hardcore (Integrity) and repetitious metal (Neurosis) heard throughout the EP. Closer "The End" is a fine display of the band's more brooding metal side and an apt closing to this EP.
A bruising combination of hardcore, d-beat, and metal consisting of six songs in eleven minutes; that is what you get with Restrained. Prepare to be destroyed.
