Razorwire
Stoke-On-Trent, home of the pottery industry, Shelley’s Laserdome Nightclub, Robbie Williams, thieves, and now Razorwire, finally we have something to get excited about.
Razorwire have been together since 1997 and have so far released two critically acclaimed albums, 2003’s ‘League Of The Godless’ and the 2005 release ‘A Bullet Called Pride’. Three years later and having had a moderate amount of success in the underground scene, Razorwire re-emerge with a brand new album and a brand new vocalist. This is Dave Scragg formerly of anarchic punk outfits Kismet HC and FuckHatePropaganda. The result of the vocal change is a record that lies somewhere between hardcore, nu-metal and thrash. Think Hed PE and Therapy with an adrenalin pumping hardcore edge. Packed full of aggression, punchy riffs and the occasional solo, all executed with fast paced brutality, aggression and experimentation.
‘Wrapped In Lies’ has an air of confidence about it and I can see why. They’re doing something brave and they’re doing it with all the aggression they can summon.
Kicking off with ‘Damage Limitation’ you’re straight away introduced to the high energy and fast and furious riffing. The constant up beat tempo keeps this record moving and pumped up, you really don’t want this to slow down. Already they’re reminding me of Victory Records rap metal meets hardcore signing The Warriors’. Scragg’s lyrics range from the political to the personal, desperation and angst. He screams and spits these out over the top of driving riffs and solid pummelling drums. The only problem comes with the slightly dodgy rapping style. It seems to lack the power and the intensity from before. These parts sound weak and this in turn weakens the rest of the album. It may be that I’m being picky, it’s not that the idea is bad, I just think the vocalist is not able to pull off this style with the right amount of edginess it needs.
To be fair though, it is a very good effort, with everything you need to feel a surge of electricity race through your skin. ‘Wrapped In Lies’ is charged and ready to kick you in the face with its energetic and adrenaline fuelled noise. This release is absolutely recommended for anyone who likes crossover, metal and hardcore and anyone that wants something new to get their teeth into. If you get the free bonus DVD too, you’ve got 10 videos to get watching. Enjoy.