Moving this show from the NX to Digital was an absolute masterstroke. This tight little club with a good sized stage and clear sightlines was absolutely perfect to create the atmosphere that the purveyors of New York hardcore need to whip up a storm and tonight it worked perfectly.
Perhaps American modern metal act Lylvc were a little out of place on a hardcore bill but dual lead singers Alyse Zavala and Oscar Romero and super flamboyant keyboardist/guitarist Cam Gillette worked their socks off to win over an initially ambivalent crowd but with “Crawl Space” and “Into Nothing” they slowly but surely won them over. Put them on with Linkin Park, Lords of the Lost or Evanescence and they’d go down a storm. Certainly a band to watch out for.
New York hardcore for those not in the know is a particularly brutal blend of metal, punk and hip-hop that features ultra heavy riffs with deep grooves and strong chant it out gang vocals with a pervading theme of social commentary running through the lyrics all delivered with unbridled raw power.
It’s hard to believe that two of New York’s leading light of the hardcore scene have not toured together until now so seeing Life of Agony and Biohazard on one bill was an unmissible event.
Life of Agony, fronted by the inimitable Keith Caputo were up first. Their 1993 debut River Runs Red is rightly regarded as a hardcore classic and tonight the bulk of the set was built around their magnum opus with the title track and “This Time” lighting the fuse.
Caputo, blessed with a wonderful, powerful bluesy voice worked his magic on “Method of Groove” and “My Eyes” whilst covering every inch of the stage. Caputo bucks the trend in hardcore singers adding more melody and range to his delivery than most whilst also managing to deliver the snarling anger and frustration so engrained in the music. It’s certainly worth checking out any of his ten solo albums to hear a totally different side to his creativity.
Joined by fellow original members Alan Robert on bass and guitarist Joey Z along with more recent recruit, Veronica Bellino on drums who was phenomenal throughout, Life Of Agony whipped up a veritable storm.
“Weeds” brought a sweet twist of melody to the show until their cover of the Cro Mags classic “We Gotta Know” battered it with some serious punk rock anger before bringing the show to a breathless close with “Underground”. Life Of Agony had laid down the challenge and given Biohazard a mountain to climb.
Biohazard of course are seasoned veterans and pioneers of the NY hardcore scene and wear their Brooklyn hearts proudly on their sleeves and duly rose to the challenge.
With signature piece “Shades Of Grey” coming early in the set, the gloves were off. With its huge bass heavy groove alternating with its breakneck pace and chant along gang vocals this encapsulates the whole spirit of NY hardcore in one song.
“Black and White and Red All Over”, and the title track from their genre defying Urban Discipline album whip up a storm of pure anger and chaos, with the circle pit descending into a frenzy of furious energy. Not a place to be for those of a nervous disposition but on closer examination, the pit etiquette provides protection and assistance for those who fall in the melee.
With all four original members that cut those early albums, Biohazard were on fire with the dual vocals of Billy Graziadei and Evan Seinfield providing the main focal point while guitarist Bobby Hambel prowled and swirled around in menacing fashion with Danny Schuler laying down the groove.
“Five Blocks On The Subway” and a cover of Bad Religion’s “We’re Only Gonna Die” stoked the flames before “Punishment” and “Wrong Side of the Tracks” slammed home with a final burst of rage in what may well have been the finest evening of NY hardcore ever to come to Newcastle.
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