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Lionheart

Welcome To The West Coast EP

Written by: PP on 13/02/2014 22:55:39

Whenever someone mentions New York Hardcore your mind immediately turns to the likes of Sick Of It All, Madball, and Agnostic Front. Why? Because they crystallized that scene into a number of hardcore anthems that you instantly associate with it. While the West Coast has its fair share of solid hardcore bands both past and current, it has never been able to collect its sound together under one umbrella in the same way. Though these are big words for a singular band, Lionheart may have just presented an equivalent on their new seven-track EP "Welcome To The West Coast", which is even better than their 2012 full-length "Undisputed" which may have been their best record to date.

With an EP title like that, they have their hands full in convincing you this is the sound of the west coast and they are the ideal embassadors of that sound. "LHHC", the centerpiece on this EP, is their hardcore anthem, the one track that'll resonate with anyone and everyone from the West Coast given its lyrical content that both gives credit to the East Coast but immediately after suggests essentially "but West Coast is where it's at" to use a colloquial expression. In his usual 50/50 style between rapping and hardcore yelling (think Deez Nuts), vocalist Rob Watson delivers an inspirational chant in every chorus, yelling in easily decipherable manner "First time on the East Coast, can't forget they showed us love - couldn't wait to get back out West: CALIFORNIA'S WHERE WE'RE FROM. Welcome to the west coast (where we at?) we're in Northern California. This is L-H-H-C." If that's not a catchphrase that's going to drive every venue absolutely nuts in a live environment, then I don't know what is. More importantly, similar tidbits are scattered across all songs on the EP, which means that you about seven tracks of hardcore at its very best. This is the kind of material to shove into detractors' face: it's strictly testosterone driven, full of crunchy hardcore style riffs and down-low groove, but it's very catchy at the same time, with fist-pumping chants containing so much power and intensity that even Terror might come second in this instance.

So here's the dilemma: Lionheart obviously play hardcore by the book - and the differences between them and other bands are primarily cosmetic more than anything else. But yet "Welcome To The West Coast" is one of the most through and through solid records released in the genre since the last Terror record. It's hard to pinpoint exactly why, but Watson's enthusiasm and brilliant delivery is one factor, as is the relatively catchy style their brand of hardcore is played with. A must own for all fans of the genre.

Download: LHHC, Rest In Power
For the fans of: Deez Nuts, Terror, Madball, Hatebreed
Listen: Facebook

Release date 14.01.2014
Fast Break Entertainment