STOUT

Formed 10 years ago, Baltimore, USAs Stout continue the fine tradition of hardcore that has come from that city, carrying on the distinctive choppy, brutal sound that past legends such as Gut Instinct and Next Step Up pioneered. Their early demos (one of which features on their Rucktion release) were rough and ready, and only hinted at the savage, warlike fury that their long overdue debut unleashes. Drawing on a wide range of influences, Stout manages to be incredibly heavy yet diverse. Over the course of their album they excel across fast straight up style HC, brutal beatdowns and menacing, dirge-like hymns of hate and revenge not heard since the heyday of bands such as Neglect, Bulldoze or Sheer Terror. All this is done without resorting to the clich..s that have plagued bands going for the tough approach. Stout floats on top of the sea of mediocre, rehashed metalcore like a bloated, headless corpse. As if this wasnt enough, their apocalyptic onslaught is topped off with some of the most unique lyrical content and vocal delivery, courtesy of the T.A.D, who is also one of the scariest looking motherfuckers whilst onstage, spitting out bitter tales of betrayal, murder and straight up insanity. Of course, you should expect nothing less from former members of bands such as NSU, Together We Fall, Curse Of Years and the flourishing Slumlords, the only thing left to say is that mere words do little to describe the unrelenting fury that Stout unleashes.