Peace Test wastes no time proving that there are a lot of layers to hardcore with Repercussion, their latest release via Delayed Gratification Records (among others for various mediums). They pack a ton of thump into a mere 12 minutes of music, averaging slightly more than a minute per song. Each song is heavy and to the point, with the energy of a hurricane in the burst of a tornado.
What they lack in length, they more than make up for in substance. There’s plenty of fast-with-blast beats thrown in for good measure. The songs have breakdowns, a few on the brutal side, but most have a feel that coerces body movement. While fast, the majority of the tempos are sped-up rock and roll played by hardcore punks.
I’ve given Repercussion a good number of listens, and seem to pick up different hardcore styles every time. There’s a lot of youth crew hidden behind fierce screams. I hear a lot of elements of Philadelphia hardcore band Paint It Black, which is a high compliment. A unique element of Peace Test is that they mix styles in a way that sounds distinct, but familiar, which is apparent with each new listen.
Jeff Novak’s drumming in album opener “Clear My Head” sets the tone. It’s heavy with a syncopated punch to the throat that hits like a cold glass of water to the face. This might feature the slowest tempo on the album, but it fits the groove perfectly, and there’s plenty of blast beats and spastic parts. The spastic never stops, making the album as a whole sound like a huge blast of atomic energy, which the stringed instruments, guitarists Matt Smith and Cedrick Gustave, and bassist Mitty, play off of perfectly.
Nolan Cambra’s voice fits their sound with a vengeance. He’s angry and relentless in the best way possible. The music is intense and substantial, but with heavy elements added, making the band a vicious force.
Repercussion is not for the faint of heart, but it is for those who want to be angry while dancing, holding in their smile, knowing that this is hardcore done properly.
Repercussion by Peace Test has a vinyl preorder through Delayed Gratification and a cassette tape preorder through Physical Therapy Label and Fanzine. The album has been available on peacetest.bandcamp.com.