Tommy Concrete – Unrelapsed
Tommy Concrete – Unrelapsed
Howling Invocations
Release Date: 01/11/2024
Running Time: 30:40
Review by Laura Barnes
9/10
I set myself a challenge this year. A long time stranger to Hardcore, I wanted to approach this genre with an open mind and figure out just what the hell it was about this music that gets Rory Bentley so excited. After having a great time with Hardcore legends Hatebreed I figured it was time to expand my horizons even further, and what better way to do so than to check out an Avantegarde Blackened Hardcore charity album in aid of feral cats in Scotland?
“Unrelapsed” is Mr. Concrete’s ninth full-length album, and an impressive entry into his vast discography. He describes his work on this album as ‘genre terrorism’, and it’s immediately clear why. Explosive, insane, and deeply, deeply distressing, “Unrelapsed” digs its nails into the listener’s ear until it draws blood. Sledgehammer drums and strangulated guitars join forces to tell a harrowing story of addiction, complete with dark thoughts, dealers, and enablers – and when I say harrowing, I mean harrowing. While the term ‘genre terrorism’ certainly has merit, I posit that this is more like genre assassination: swift, precise, and lethal. The barebones production adds a gritty realism; Tommy’s whisper-like vocals create an uncomfortable intimacy; the bonkers rhythms convey a sense of unease. In other words, it is calculated madness.
Above all else though, what makes this album stand out is the brutal honesty of its lyrics. ‘Relapse’ declares that ‘You will fail / Just as you think you’re at your strongest’, while ‘Sacrificed’ ponders on the people left behind once sobriety is chosen. The most hard-hitting lyrics come to the fore in ‘Denial’, the final track of this release. ‘It was fucking New Year / It’s okay to be fucked then’, ‘I’m not paranoid / I can just see the truth’ and ‘Not my fault I’m here / Trouble just finds me’ paints a vivid picture of someone that is terrified of looking in the mirror.
The biggest challenge that ‘Unrelapsed’ will face now that it’s out in the world will be finding its audience. It’s a difficult listen, and for many casual music fans this album might just prove too much of a challenge. But its greatest weakness may also prove to be its greatest strength. Once “Unrelapsed” graces the ears of those that need it most, its legacy will endure.
TRACKLISTING
- Ambivalent
- Relapse
- Monstrous
- Anger
- Debt
- Depression
- Unrecognisable
- Blame
- Psycho
- Lying
- Lost
- Blackout
- Void
- Abandoned
- Suicidal
- Dependant
- Sacrificed
- Withdrawal
- Spew
- Paranoia
- Chaos
- Denial
LINE UP
Tommy Concrete – Everything
LINKS
Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Alun Jones and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.