hands down, i am an antagonist fan. or better antagonist a.d., as they have to call themselves since the 2008 album 'we are the dead'. i bought their first album 'these cities, our graves' in 2006 and since then i have a soft spot in my heart for this vegan new zealand combo. i love how they describe their own sound as metalcore. and this is what it is, plain and simple. while most bands avoid this term like the plague, they stand for it. energetic and not watered down.
when i heard news of a coming record this year, i was all over it. as lifeforce from germany was involved in the release, i knew that it would come on vinyl and that i woud have to pre-order from impericon, that host the e-store of lifeforce. so i placed my order and with some delays first and then an unexpected earlier shipping, the record landed at my door last week.
musically this is just what i expected from antagonist. metalcore in its heaviest from. the sound coming with loads of pressure and the songs with the right dosage of energy and melody. check out 'coffin keeper' and 'for anyone who hurts'. the presentation is nice too. sturdy cardboard sleeve and thick vinyl. only little downer is the colour. it was described as red marble. well, the marble effect is, let's say subtle. 175 copies made. still available. lifeforce records. 2015.
