Decimate The Weak

Century Media (2008)

By Facemelter

All I can say is, "Man,...the hardcore scene sure has changed." Well, I'll say more than that but that's the first thing entering my mind when I started spinning Decimate The Weak from WINDS OF PLAGUE. Album opener "Anthems Of Apocalypse" rolls through nicey-nice keyboard swells (ala Bleeding Through, I suppose), Six Feet Under gutter growl and Maiden-esque melodic guitar harmonies. It's several MINUTES into the song until it sounds even remotely like a hardcore band when Johnny Plague barks out, "Not today mutha fuckaaa!"

Not today dude. Not me. I dig what WOP are trying to accomplish here and they're definitely adept players and inventive writers. I guess I'm just yearning for some pure, good 'ole hardcore. "Decimate The Weak" briefly offers some gang choruses before it gets all smarty pants again. Good riffs grab me for a moment and then just when I'm ready to circle pit with the cat, the fuckin' keyboards crush my jones and the Yngwie gangsta in the Suffocation t-shirt shreds away my urge for for physical exertion. Sigh.

Hey, what can we expect right? These kids weren't raised on Black Flag, Hatebreed and Minor Threat. They were listening to Avenged Sevenfold and couldn't wait for Cradle Of Filth to come to town. Maybe their girlfriends make them listen to emo and they're like,..."Whatever bitch,...have you heard Obituary?" Maybe they can't grow their hair because of their day jobs.

Many moments (not songs) on this disc I enjoyed with the exception of of "Reloaded".  Sorry guys, maybe you caught me in a bad place. The talent and spirit are all over this thing. WINDS OF PLAGUE definitely know their shit and they know how to deliver the goods. It's just not merging correctly. But back to that song I mentioned, "Reloaded". Coincidentally, shortest song on Decimate The Weak and easily the best.

"Kick out the jam and get on your knees!" Fuck yes. Jamey Jasta wishes he wrote this one. This is a classic hardcore song and the best H/C original I've heard in over a year. Oh yes, I danced. Worth the price of admission? Probably not.