If you followed hardcore and melodic hardcore in the early to mid-2000s, chances are good you came across either the debut or sophomore full length from New York based This is Hell. Sundowning and Misfortunes struck that fine balance between hardcore’s aggression, infectious melodies, and anthemic verses that likely had the whole crowd screaming along in a live setting. In the years that followed the band shifted a bit more towards crossover thrash, releasing two albums on Rise Records and even incorporating a bit more James Hetfield sounding singing/yelling on 2011’s Black Mass. Following that album releases were sporadic with two EP’s coming out between 2013 and 2016, after which things went quiet for close to a decade. This year This is Hell has broken that silence with another EP Born Suspicious and returned to original label Trustkill Records (who are also back in action after a period of inactivity). Like 2016’s Bastards Still Remain, the sound pivots back towards the hardcore end of the spectrum and feels like a return to the group’s roots.
Coming in at just over eleven minutes, Born Suspicious flies by quickly but it crams a lot of riffs into that timespan and follows Bastards Still Remain in returning to more of the hardcore and melodic hardcore elements that This is Hell was known for in their earlier days. Opener “Higher Than God” is fast and punchy, but you do get some flourishes of melody and the slower breaks that make you want to start jumping around. The other four tracks offer a similar mixture of New York hardcore and melodic hardcore, with some tracks going for straight intensity the entire way through alongside chunkier basslines while others do let the melodic elements shine through a bit more. If you’ve spent time with the group’s first two full lengths none of these elements are anything radically different, but the back-to-basics approach that This is Hell are utilizing on this EP works to their advantage. Not only are the tracks fast paced and not stretched to the point of repetition, but it’s clear the material emphasizes quality over quantity and there are sections on each of the tracks that stands on its own over repeat listens. I’m particularly fond of the way that the title track ends up with a huge, heavy breakdown and then “Destined for Devastation” immediately takes over with more of a punk melody. The production values are also worth mentioning, as everything is balanced in a way that allows the low end to thump the listener in the chest while also letting the melodies soar.
Where Black Mass had some vocals that were a bit closer to the modern thrash sung/yelled pitch, Born Suspicious pivots back towards screaming and shouting that’s squarely back in hardcore territory. “Higher Than God” makes this clear right out of the gate, as you’ll hear both the shriller screams/yells and some lower growls within the first minute and there is also some spoken word added in. Considering how short Born Suspicious is, the amount of variety on the vocal front that This is Hell packs in makes the material stand out even more. The title track moves a bit more towards slightly cleaner ranges with sung/screamed passages, and there are a lot of shifts between the highs and lows that make things more dynamic. Even after all these years This is Hell is as intense and in your face as ever, and that goes a long way.
Born Suspicious breaks a decade of silence by showing that This is Hell hasn’t lost any of their bite or knack for memorable hooks. At times it feels like a cross between their self-titled EP and Sundowning, as there’s a lot of fast moving hardcore with some dips into metalcore chugs and soaring melodic hardcore territory. It’s certainly not trying to reinvent anything the band has done before, but when the material is this strong that’s not a bad thing and it’s great to have them back. Hopefully it won’t be another ten years between releases though, as I’m curious to hear what else the band might have in store for listeners. Born Suspicious is available from Trustkill Records.
-Review by Chris Dahlberg