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Writing reviews of hardcore and metal albums seems like a constant struggle to find new and interesting ways to say “heavy,” and that's probably appropriate because the albums themselves seem to be an attempt to do the same thing. Thankfully, while Most Precious Blood's Merciless can certainly be described with its share of synonyms, it can also be described as a simple, solid metal-influenced hardcore album.

Even though the band has added some light electronic touches, mostly with sampled choirs, none of it really gets in the way, and the album would easily transfer to a live setting. The record builds on much the same influences as Our Lady of Annihilation; classic hardcore with some light metallic touches. In fact, take this as a positive or a negative; there is nothing about this album which confines it to 2005. It could just as easily have come out five years ago or five years from now, because there is little to no trend-hopping, minimal melodic vocals, and no Pantera-derived breakdowns.

Rob Fusco's stellar vocals still anchor the album together, and his seething snarl is well complimented by the powerful rhythm section. The band plays with the tempos a little, from slower, groove-laden moments to gallopping double-bass bursts. “Shark Ethic,” which opens the record, is laden with production touches like a singing choir layered over the thumping bass drum, but soon returns to familiar territory. These flourishes are common, like a keyboard part attached to “Two Men Enter, One Man Leaves.” The opening of “Driving Angry” does include a somewhat unecessary, clean vocal part, but it is quickly abandoned and Fusco takes center stage.

Lyrically, the band also sticks to the ethos spawned by early metal/hardcore acts: Cruelty-free lifestyle messages abound and preached with the same abandon as straight-edge anthems on a Youth of Today album. One of the tracks is even titled on John Robbins' seminal vegan lifestyle book, Diet for a New America.

If there is a failing to the album, it's that later tracks spend far too much time opening and closing with unecessary vocal samples, disrupting the flow from track to track. “Curse of the Immortal” is almost a minute of vocal samples, and “Temporary Solution to a Permanent Problem” also wastes valuable time and energy on this note. This is particularly disappointing as the melancholy track is one of the strongest on the album.

Overall, Merciless is a strong album from one of Trustkill's most consistent and reliable acts. Outside of some unecessary electronic trickery and the aforementioned skits, the songs themselves are incredibly solid and versatile and give some hope to the future of metal-influenced hardcore outside of the trendiness of the current scene.



People who liked this also liked:
Embrace Today - We Are The EnemyLess Than Jake - Borders and BoundariesGet Up Kids - Four Minute MileHey Mercedes - Everynight Fire WorksDescendents - Milo Goes To CollegeGet Up Kids - Something To Write Home AboutTusk - Get Ready [reissue]Street Drum Corps - Street Drum Corps [CD/DVD]Envy - A Dead Sinking StoryBoy Sets Fire - The Misery Index: Notes from the Plague Years



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    Posted by druhol on 2006-05-27 14:58:06

    Haha, they sampled Sisters Of Mercy for the first song. That's pretty cool.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 at 2:27 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    nothing i vain is the only lp these dudes sounded good on
    now its shit.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, October 3, 2005 at 9:58 AM (EDT)

    Hey underground scene,
    How's Rutgers, you faggot? Nice away message, "Church", you douchebag.

    Posted by mikeinflames on 2005-09-27 22:46:15

    track 54 almost made me piss myself laughing

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 27, 2005 at 4:08 PM (EDT)

    buy the album ... pull out the j-card ... flip it over ... the original artwork is there

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 26, 2005 at 11:52 PM (EDT)

    best hardcore release of 2005.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 26, 2005 at 3:10 PM (EDT)

    Yeah..................no. Fuck this.

    Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2005-09-26 02:13:28

    i had a bloody shit this morning that was more offensive than this album cover

    - jones the bones

    - stevejones8770@yahoo.com

    - granted, a bloody shit is pretty offensive

    Posted by soulbleed on 2005-09-25 01:59:01

    too bad most precious blood isn't metalcore, retard.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 24, 2005 at 8:52 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    fuck metalcore

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 24, 2005 at 7:09 PM (EDT)

    Can we only see a fraction of the cover? Does it fold out into something else?

    To me it just looks like a guy took a nap with some ketchup on his shirt.

    -Will

    Posted by Russe11 on 2005-09-24 16:24:19

    The orriginal cover is just downright disturbing. I can fully understand why it got banned.

    Posted by wehavecomeforyourchildren on 2005-09-24 02:32:08

    i haven't heard this yet. i really liked their last album alot at first, but i can't say i ever really listen to it anymore.

    also, i'm glad that they went with this album art instead of the original. i wasn't feeling that bro at all. he looked kinda sick.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 24, 2005 at 2:30 AM (EDT)

    Nah, Anchors, a lot of Europe, especially Germany, is still big on censorship.

    -Will

    Posted by ramo on 2005-09-23 23:51:25
    My Score:

    Possibly the only Trustkill band that's worth listening.

    This album is growing on me. It's pretty hard to top Our Lady Of Annihilation.

    I agree with Aubin. Rob has some of the best vocals in the hardcore scene today.

    Ramo

    Posted by Anchors on 2005-09-23 23:07:56

    Anyone else find it weird that there's an alternate cover for the European version, when we're the ones who would usually be up in arms over something like this?

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 23, 2005 at 8:57 PM (EDT)

    Yeah, superdude is a superdork. HA!

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 23, 2005 at 5:53 PM (EDT)

    i usually dont like to comment when someone isnt funny and stuf like that, but those superdude comments are really lame. it is almost embarrassing to read.

    Posted by superdude on 2005-09-23 17:18:00

    Dear Most Precious Blood,

    Sorry I didn't write sooner, I was lost in the Internet.

    So you wrote an album while I was gone? Well, I could have used a search party, but this'll do.

    I hope you arm is okay.

    Anyways, enough with the present. Hey, remember high school? Man, I keep thinking of the time when we stole your brother's car and then drove waaaaaaaay over the speed limit? Danger!

    If you had a convertible car it would be even more DANGER!.

    Anyways, you're a new man now, and I'm a man now. Thanks for touching in.

    See you at the 10 year reunion!

    Superdude

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 23, 2005 at 5:00 PM (EDT)

    I prefer the queercore band "Most Precious Semen" - almost as good as Limp Wrist

    Posted by aubin on 2005-09-23 16:47:29

    "so, did this album cover end up getting banned? or is the album not carried in major outlets? or did they put like a sticker over it or something? whats the deal"

    There is an "alternate" cover for the European release. You can see that here.

    As far as I can tell, the North American release is unchanged.

    Posted by etwiels88 on 2005-09-23 15:38:28
    My Score:

    Because God hates you.

    The lead singer is really small. I like that.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 23, 2005 at 2:26 PM (EDT)

    if the blood is so precious, why did they let it soak into that guys shirt?

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 23, 2005 at 2:01 PM (EDT)

    so, did this album cover end up getting banned? or is the album not carried in major outlets? or did they put like a sticker over it or something? whats the deal

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 23, 2005 at 1:43 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    new yoke hawd core to the max bithces.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 23, 2005 at 1:19 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    awesome album

    and i don't get why the original artwork got banned

    it's not that bad

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 23, 2005 at 1:13 PM (EDT)

    "How is the new Horse the Band anyway?"

    more of the same, but its good. worth buying easily, especially if you are already a fan

    and combat is a major? i always thought it was an indie. who is it part of? it also says kotch, is that the major? what is that apart of?

    Posted by inagreendase on 2005-09-23 13:09:28

    thanks for not using the term "metalcore" anywhere in your review. now i can go to bed happy.

    Well, this is definitely one of those cases where it's necessary to describe it as 'metal-influenced hardcore' rather than 'metalcore,' because it leans way more in the HC direction than it does the MC.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 23, 2005 at 11:25 AM (EDT)

    Is any one else surprised by the new Cave In?

    Posted by Sirens on 2005-09-23 10:53:52
    My Score:

    assholes, us americans like our hamburgers and grease on our ice cream. Aqua Teen Hunger Force... when they deep fried that cow...... brilliant.

    Scores for Aqua Teen

    Posted by theundergroundscene on 2005-09-23 10:23:46

    what if the fat old vocalist and the singer from fairweather had a baby

    Posted by theundergroundscene on 2005-09-23 10:17:30

    i think rob is a much better vocalist than the other fatso

    dude he was sooooo fat

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 23, 2005 at 9:17 AM (EDT)

    "Most Precious Blood"?.......I don't get it.
    "i dont know if its just coincidence or what, but "most precious blood" is an indecision song"

    MPB is Indecision with Rob Fusco from One King Down on vocals. They have 3 full length cds out.
    Tom Sheehan(Indecision's original singer)was the singer on the first cd "Nothing In Vain". Rob is the singer on this cd & the one before it "Our Lady Of Annihilation"

    Posted by rkl on 2005-09-23 08:57:23

    also,
    Most Precious Blood - Merciless
    Posted by SenorRefresco on 2005-09-23 02:09:54

    "Most Precious Blood"?.......I don't get it.

    i dont know if its just coincidence or what, but "most precious blood" is an indecision song

    Posted by rkl on 2005-09-23 08:53:01

    aubin: thanks for not using the term "metalcore" anywhere in your review. now i can go to bed happy.

    Posted by pastepunk on 2005-09-23 07:04:36

    Is this cool Black Flag style hardcore or lame meat-head core? Just curious....because I might give it a shot if it isnt lame.

    --

    Neither. Definitely not meat-head core, their songs are thoroughly intelligent and well versed. It's more developed thank Black Flag style hardcore... if we're painting w/ broad brushes, it's more common with Just Look Around Era Sick Of It All.

    Posted by BrandonSideleau on 2005-09-23 04:12:08

    that doesnt even look real.....people give a fuss over the stupidest shit

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 23, 2005 at 3:50 AM (EDT)

    "This is the one with the "controversial" artwork right? I don't get it."

    That's because the uncensored cover looked like this: http://www.roadrunnerrecords.co.uk/artists/mostpreciousblood/show photo.aspx?photoID=11360

    Also, this album is awesome.

    Posted by BrandonSideleau on 2005-09-23 03:21:04

    Is this cool Black Flag style hardcore or lame meat-head core? Just curious....because I might give it a shot if it isnt lame.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 23, 2005 at 2:53 AM (EDT)

    Horse the band is not on and indie, they are on combat, part of a major, so maybe that will help answer your question.. HORSE THE BAND ARE SELLOUTS, who the fuck cares, they rock

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 23, 2005 at 2:24 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    OMG, he's cumming blood !!

    Posted by SenorRefresco on 2005-09-23 02:09:54

    "Most Precious Blood"?.......I don't get it.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 23, 2005 at 1:43 AM (EDT)

    How is the new Horse the Band anyway?

    Oh and as for this cd.....I like the previous one, so I'll check this out.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 23, 2005 at 1:01 AM (EDT)

    since when did indie releases have "parental advisory" logos?

    i just got the new horse the band and it has it...thats not even a big indie label

    Posted by gladimnotemo on 2005-09-23 00:40:59

    I haven't heard any of the bands in today's update, and I feel like a better person because of it.

    Posted by theundergroundscene on 2005-09-23 00:34:33

    "driving angry" is fucking UNBELIEVEABLE

    a few songs on this are awesome, some not so much

    i give it a 6

    Posted by TheOneTrueBill on 2005-09-23 00:19:05

    This is the one with the "controversial" artwork right? I don't get it.

    Posted by inagreendase on 2005-09-23 00:17:08
    My Score:

    A bit tougher than what my tastes usually fall into, but not bad. I'm enjoying some of this.