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All Out War is one band that, to us hardcore kids (and metalhead New Yorkers) everywhere, needs little to no introduction. Born and bred as initially a hardcore/crossover thrash quintet around the year 1990, this long-running Newburgh outfit is still kicking and screaming onstage and in the recording studio rather strong. With seven full-length albums as well as over a dozen total releases in general under their oversized belt, the band, which had even broken up for a couple years at one point in the mid 2000s, is back once again and perhaps with some newfound energy. Time to check out what's in store...
It's been around two years since the last release, so perhaps not a very long wait. Regardless, this unexpected hardcore composition flew under a lot of radars lately and it's time now, on the day of its release, to do Crawl Among The Filth some worthwhile justice. Released under the Unbeaten Records label very recently, this 30 minute full-length sprawls and crushes everything in its wake with an abundant and formidable ten tracks within its arsenal. The new album is also available on multiple formats, both digitally and physically, as well.
Crawl Among The Filth starts off strong and with a bang in the form of 'Divine Isolation'. The beginning blast beat section and the thrashy riff part that follows helps to set in a rather ominous, yet intimately aggressive tone for the songs to come. You even get a slower breakdown section that is repeated with greater enthusiasm later in the song. 'Judas Always Crawls' is a more brief but lyrical content-heavy track that is lightning fast and incredibly reminiscient of the older years of the band and others like it. The riffs are pretty consistent and stay the same for much of the song but it's the outro breakdown chugging that really sells it for me.
Oddly enough, the song that follows right after starts off at an even faster tempo but slows down and kind of becomes too stagnant in structure and speed. It's an alright song but doesn't do much to branch out or surprise you in any way: a standard hardcore track. 'Contempt Be Thy Faith' is another fave of mine due to its melodic/balladic intro and instrumentation. And the way it transitions into an open note chug fest really hits hard. It's a longer song that's very vocal heavy. Tremolo picking and vibratos set the stage later on. Another really formidable song on here is 'Gehenna Lights Eternal', which is one of the singles/focus tracks that follows the more brief mid-album songs. It has an overall more destructive and somewhat grindey feel and the lyrics hit pretty close to home, as well.
The rest of Crawl Among The Filth consists of shorter songs that sort of pack a punch, but, at the same time, they end right as you get into them. The outro track 'Despised Regime' ends the album off on a high note though with its generally crushing tone in addition to the slower, darker vibes. There are definitely hits on the album, but there are also some forgettable aspects as well. I wish there was more guitar solo action and maybe more melodies. The production quality and musical execution are both on point, though.
It's really no wonder as to why these NY dudes get the rep and respect from the hxc crowd from all over that they have proudly sported all these decades. And this new release is a mere testament to that with its oldschool and modern elements to boot combined with the same old All Out War sound and identity that old-time listeners are sure to be familiar with. The similar energy and musicianship helps cloud over the album's weakest points to an extent and I'm sure the New York collective will keep it kicking for more years to come going forward if this is a sign of anything.
Fave Tracks: 'Judas Always Crawls', 'Contempt Be Thy Faith', 'Gehenna Lights Eternal'
For Fans Of: Full Blown Chaos, Ringworm, Sworn Enemy
**This release is available now here!**
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-Review by: Dave Raffy
Musician, reviewer, fan & promoter
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