Sheffield hardcore bruisers Malevolence have become titans of the scene through hard work and steely determination. They’ve blazed a trail for others to follow, and have already given a helping hand to the likes of Guilt Trip through their own record label MLVLTD. The latest release on an already solid roster comes from Rough Justice, who are about to unleash their debut full-length Faith In Vain. It is an album that owes much to their Steel City compatriots, but make no mistake, Rough Justice are very much their own band and Faith In Vain is sure to place them prominently on the metal map.
Born from a shared love of Pennsylvanian bands Bad Seed and Dead End Path, Rough Justice’s roots lie deep in the hardcore scene, yet they also have an affinity for metal, and Faith In Vain exists in that magical place that lies between the two. Songs for this album were demoed and rehearsed in Malevolence’s DIY space, and that becomes apparent in this record’s rough hewn charm. Attesting to a sense of urgency ‘Coward’ gets straight down to business with a lovely chuggy riff. There’s no time to waste on fancy introductions or suchlike, just a juggernaut punch that finds the band throwing their weight around like a bare knuckle boxer. The guitars entomb us with their rectangular riffs, while the rhythm section, wound up tighter than a drum, attacks our solar plexus. The vocals are raw and visceral and display an emotion that can’t be faked, and the result is one hell of a heavy sound, and one that attaches itself to listener as if an anchor to a drowning man.
The production is an often overlooked element when it comes to this type of crossover, but the sound afforded Faith In Vain is a real boon. It’s a clean mix and one that separates all the instruments, and coupled with unorthodox guitar parts and song structures, a real depth is created and, subsequently, this becomes an album you can quite easily lose yourself within. Tracks such as ‘Boa Constrictor’ are bursting with good ideas, yet they never feel cluttered, and these are songs that’ll suit solitary bedroom listens and rowdy pits equally well. Rough Justice are a band who understand musical dynamics; they’re not all pure bludgeon and there’s plenty of light to contrast the shade, and lithe to enhance the heavy. Yet, Faith In Vain is a record that offers no quarter; from the opening blast of ‘Coward’ to the bulldozer that is closer ‘Mind’s Eye’, this record is a musical beatdown (but in the best way, of course).
Clocking in at around the 25-minute mark, Faith In Vain doesn’t overstay its welcome, but true to the old adage it leaves you hungry for more. And I’m sure there’s much more to come from this bunch.
Track List:
- Coward
- Overruled
- Faith In Vain
- Rusting
- When It Comes
- Boa Constrictor
- Backwards Mask
- Mind’s Eye
