Bad Advice

Do Not Resuscitate [7-inch] (2012)

Rich Cocksedge

I like to think that I rarely take, or give for that matter, bad advice. However, here is some Bad Advice that is in short supply, as this is a one-off recording and is almost essential if you love raw hardcore which features a modern take on the classic 1980s sound that ended up spawning a myriad of sub-genres. Although there is that element of nostalgia here it's not done in a deferential, copycat way. These are five guys who basically worked on a side project away from their more established bands, which include the likes of Government Warning and Cloak/Dagger, and with this being a Richmond, Va.-based project, that automatically got my ears tingling in anticipation before I even heard the record.

The four tracks here all have a frantic and furious quality that does remind me more of Government Warning on initial plays and this is a good thing indeed. The twin guitars rage along with the subtlety of a chainsaw ripping through the trunk of a tree whilst the rhythm section provides assault and battery in sufficient measures to ensure that this is a full on experience. The vocals of Tony Bitch (The Ladies) have a slight garage feel to them and this only goes to enhance the overall quality of this release as the lyrics are spat out with intensity and fury.

Two tracks, "If Life's A Joke" and "Anger Problem," clock in at a tad over a minute, the title track takes things a bit further time-wise, coming in at around a minute-and-a half whilst the closer, "Chemical Imbalance", is a whopper at almost three whole minutes! This final track really makes me think of both the Circle Jerks and Suicidal Tendencies at times, although you wouldn't say that this is a song that actually sounds like those bands. One thing is for certain, this is the stand out track on the EP as it uses a change of pace to perfection throughout the song to add an extra tension to the mix.

Unfortunately, if you find this seven-inch to your liking then don't hold your breath for any other releases as none were recorded and the band gradually faded from existence sometime in 2010 or thereabouts (although who knows, they might be tempted to reconvene for some live shows/further records if there is interest in this single). Therefore, you should ensure you check this beauty out if you have any affinity with hardcore music as it's worthy of your time and money.