album o' the day

Modern Life Is War
"Witness"
(Deathwish Inc.)

Hardcore is somewhat of a joke these days. Many younger bands are coming out of every whichway relentlessly ripping off American Nightmare, Botch, Blood Brothers, The Misfits or some combination of them. The genre, and subculture, in itself has become somewhat of a living fashion ad for Hot Topic, Saucony, or whatever weird hipster/goth hybrid is all the rage these days.

Modern Life Is War's "Witness" is refreshing. It's not a mess of vampires, aimless noodling, idiotic song titles, make up or any other trend that's screwing up hardcore. With the cynicism of Rollins-era Black Flag and frustration of your true blood hardcore fan, "Witness" is everything that hardcore isn't these days: good.

[Available mp3s: "D.E.A.D.R.A.M.O.N.E.S."]