Foundation - Hang Your Head
Rating
RIYL
Alpha & OmegaBad Seed
Brick
Release Date
09/15/2009
Label
Six Feet Under RecordsTracklist
1. Fireproof2. Hang Your Head
3. Evaporate
4. Heartless
5. Pray For (Atlanta)
6. Call It Like You See It
7. What is the Point?
8. Keyhole
9. Against the Wall
10. Testing Patience
Users Rating |
Your RatingCreate an account or log in to rate this album |
Recent Ratings |
|
|
|
Foundation has come to bludgeon and beat you senseless on Hang Your Head, a tough-as-nails, bruising ten song set firmly rooted in the traditions of ’90s New York hardcore. There are no contrived melodic choruses or feeble cross-over attempts here—this is pure, unadulterated hardcore with vicious breakdowns, pummeling rhythms, and gruff vocals, replete with shout-outs to straight edge and a little hometown pride. This album is driven by fierce riffs and demands to be played loudly. This is the kind of effort that absolutely destroys live, from the huge, single-note breakdowns of “Call It Like You See It” to the energized gang vocals of “Fireproof,” a fine start to the record. These are straight edge anthems created to incite cardio kick-boxing on a massive scale.
Hang Your Head succeeds in the same way, but to a lesser degree, that records like Reign Supreme’s Testing the Limits of Infinite and Trapped Under Ice’s Secrets of the World succeed—despite being nothing new or original, the passion, sheer conviction, and execution give the album an almost palpable sense of urgency. “Hang Your Head” and “Heartless” are stout cuts where the band’s sonic bite is on full display, and “Keyhole” is an absolute beast of a song that bridles with ferocity and acerbity. “Evaporate” seethes, claws, and gnashes its way to an excellent breakdown at the end of the track. “Pray For (Atlanta)” is perhaps the strongest song on the disc with lyrical barbs aimed at “tradition”: the hard-line Christian fundamentalist doctrine that’s become married with the conservative establishment of the South and the American military-industrial complex.
The issue with this disc, however, is simple—its strength is also its biggest weakness. This is a rousing, energetic release, featuring unrelenting songs and a strong performance from the boys of Foundation. That said they never really deviate from a strict formula. This is a strong album, but there is nothing transcendent about it; it stays firmly within the strict framework of hardcore with little to no experimentation. Foundation have crafted themselves a very fine hardcore record, but they don’t quite have the chops to turn it into a real monster like the aforementioned Reign Supreme and Trapped Under Ice albums, nor do they incorporate enough variegated musical elements to make this disc much more than an ancillary addition to the collections of genre fans. The bottom line is that this is a very solid effort that hints at better things to come.
--Jake Oliver
Comments
Lehigh Valley, PA
I love this album. I think that maybe I can see how one can view it as nothing special but I feel that's what the hardcore scene needs. No frills, no thrills...just straight up hardcore. I just saw these guys at Have Heart's last show and they were amazing. They were also awesome dudes to hang out with and talk to as well. I'm far from straight edge but i give these guyys 2 thumbs up.
San Diego, CA
Dude totally agree. See, for me the three stars is a good album, not average; I guess it all just depends on peoples' scales. Here's the thing for me, though: I had never heard of them before I saw them with Have Heart in Albany like a month before that Edge Day show, and they were so fucking good live it's tainted the album for me because they're not as nuts on these recordings (which I realize would be quite difficult to do). So I guess my perspective is just skewed. Great, great band, though.
Too old to bother, too young to give a shit.
San Diego, CA
Another one of my issues was that even though they are so good live, other great live bands like Cruel Hand and Reign Supreme manage to capture that energy in the studio, which is what elevates their new albums to such a high level.
Too old to bother, too young to give a shit.
Wisconsin
so effing good. one of the best live acts in the game.
Raleigh, NC
Haha, Jake, you got quoted: http://www.theb9.com/view-article/foundation-announces-new-album-title-and-gears-up-for-euro-tour-starting-friday
San Diego, CA
Hahaha excellent
Too old to bother, too young to give a shit.