Albums•November 29, 2011•20,030 views

Terror One With The Underdogs

01. One With The Underdogs 02. Keep Your Mouth Shut 03. Less Than Zero 04. Are We Alive? 05. Overcome 06. Spit My Rage 07. No One Cares 08. Not This Time 09. Crushed By The Truth 10. Out Of My Face 11. All I've Got 12. Find My Way 13. Enemies In Sight

2004 Trustkill Records

Our score 8

by Cory

11/17/2004

I'm not really sure how Terror's One With The Underdogs, one of the biggest hardcore releases of 2004 managed to go this long without being reviewed. I know for me personally, this was one of the releases I was anticipating most highly and despite the fact that this year saw the release of some tremendous albums, this record holds a relatively high place among the best records released this year. Anyone who calls themselves a fan of real hardcore understands how Terror quickly rose to become one of the most universally appreciated bands in the business. A combination of constant touring, strong demo recordings and street cred helped get the name out there and the release of their first EP on Bridge Nine Records proved that they were a force ot be reckoned with. That's why it came as a shock to some that Terror decided to release their follow up with Trustkill Records, a label that seems to have been venturing further and further from traditional hardcore in recent years. While it is tempting to make comparisons for those who haven't heard Terror, all you really need to know is that they play hardcore the only way it should ever be played: fast, loud and angry. Scott Vogel's vocal stylings should sound incredibly familiar to any fans of Buried Alive or Despair, as he fronted both of these influential bands. The vocals of Freddy Madball, Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed, Ezac of Skarhead and Cory of Internal Affairs all enhance the songs that they appear on, and also give an added sense of continuity within hardcore. Terror, in their short existence, already seem to have influenced much of the new wave of streamlined, no-frills hardcore that has become so prevalent in the last two years. It's not necessarily that they did it first or even that the idea is so revolutionary, but they just do it better than just about anyone else. Where some bands have that one song that becomes their signature, Terror's songs are almost uniformly solid. I've listened to this disc countless times, and despite the frequent highlights, I can't identify a "low" point song-wise. Although many of the songs themselves tread familiar lyrical ground, I do have to commend Vogel on what seems to be an effort to minimize unnecessary profanity. The word "fuck" still pops up every now and then, but the overall strength of the lyrics has grown so much that it actually seems to carry some meaning here, as opposed to on "Lowest of the Low" where it seemed to be a convenient filler word. These lyrics aren't necessarily prize-winning poetry, but they really don't need to be. The sentiments here often resemble some of the pithy lyrics I have often criticized in hardcore records, but it's hard to argue with the sort of devotion these guys have shown, particularly Vogel and current guitarist Frank Novinec of Ringworm. When you've been around as long as these guys, you can call bullshit on the trend-jumpers and tout your own ability to stay true. Lots of bands talk big about hardcore; these guys have lived it for over a decade. The place where One With The Underdogs didn't live up to Lowest of the Low for me was in the overall sound and production of the record. While the lyrics and songs themselves were much stronger, the record sounds a little thin compared to their previous record. While I'm personally of the opinion that no one can capture low end in a metal or hardcore record quite like Bill Korecky, the band and Paul Miner have still done a good job here. It's not bad by any means -- just slightly less powerful. I'm not sure I really "get" the concept of the artwork, but it looks pretty damn cool and the "vinyl" CD was a fun, albeit goofy, bonus. Bottom Line: I'm sick of hearing people say Terror are over-rated. While there were hardcore records I've liked better this year, I can't really say that there is a hardcore band currently playing that's any better. One With The Underdogs is a powerhouse hardcore record by a band that is committed to making great music, and it shows in every record and live performance I've ever witnessed. These songs will make you want to spinkick the douchebag in his girlfriend's jeans in the face, and these lyrics will inspire you to mosh, headwalk and fingerpoint. This is hardcore done right.

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john_doe_ 8/9/2004 9:04:27 AM

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Terror One With The Underdogs

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