"Tough-guy" hardcore is the most futile style for me to even attempt to formulate any sort of premise to. There is no "fence"; you either like it or you don't. My pointless musical jargon and ramblings aren't going to change your mind to whether that pummeling, dropped-tuned riff gets your adrenaline pumping, or whether it makes you nauseated. So should you even bother purchasing Forfeit's The Lower Depths? Refer to sentence two.

Good, so are we now on the same page?

For those like me who enjoy this brand of hardcore but don't necessarily "live it," catchy rhythms are essential. While the fast parts leave a little to be desired (one of my biggest qualms with this style), the slow groove parts are substantial, crushing and welcoming of many head-bobs. It isn't that the fast parts are poorly written--Forfeit just seems to be going through the motions. Vocally, it's pretty low and guttural, with the occasional melody peaking out. "Treading Water II" not only sounds like a Metallica song title, but consists of some pretty heavy James Hetfield growls.

The Lower Depths really shines at half its speed. For anyone who enjoys New York-style hardcore directly from the source, you could do yourself a service by checking this out.