The RadioActivist

In hip-hop and hardcore alike, it’s often perceived as easier to conveniently categorize acts in mutually exclusive opposition according to an implied time frame. Old school versus new school. Then and now. Past Present. But despite the title, Revelation’s 150th release is actually a lesson in the contrary, effectively displaying the constant evolution that no arbitrary dichotomy could explain. Take the first track, for example, a cover of Warzone’s “As One” by Sick of It All. Is it a current band covering a defunct act? Well, yes, but the original was released in 1988, after Sick of it All had already been a band for two years. Not to mention that Warzone continued on well past any potential old-school milemarker until frontman Ray "Raybeez" Barbieri’s death in 1997. Next, Bold covers Supertouch. And at the end of the comp, Walter Schreifels (Gorilla Biscuits, Youth of Today, Quicksand, CIV, Rival Schools) covers Sick of It All. So in a way it kind of comes full circle, but ...

Generally when hardcore bands begin meandering down the path towards crossover, thrash, and eventually full-blown metal, it’s because they’re running out of ideas, trying to expand their fanbase, or possibly see a little bit more cash potential in headbangers than two-steppers. But for whatever reason said unnamed bands begin blowing the winds of change, This Is Hell gets a free pass for probably not falling into those categories even while turning slightly in the direction of crossover thrash. Although the band’s preceding full-length was interesting and enjoyable enough, Warbirds looks slightly more appealing right off the bat, with song lengths hovering around the two-and-a-half-minute mark instead of the four-and-a-half minute tracks that populated Misfortunes. Furthermore, by the time the music gets going, it’s fairly evident that This Is Hell aren’t barking up too high on the thrash tree. Aside from some guitar soloing rarely seen in the band’s previous catalog, not much is diffe...