Track Review: “Take It Or Leave It” by Weaponry

Reading Post Hardcore heroes Weaponry have been cranking out their greatest hits during high octane live performances to fans all over the United Kingdom and leaving venues in sweaty messes as standard. After surpassing 25k Spotify streams for their debut EP “What Have We Done“, the build up to their next record is well under way, including their signing to Prank Monkey Records.

The second single from the bands soon to be released sophomore EP “Forever Nothing” recorded at The Ranch Production House with Daley George (Creeper, Funeral For A Friend) in September 2021, “Take It Or Leave It” has been a live favourite for a long chalk. The last of the tunes written before the arrival of drummer Tim Doyle to be committed to tape, like the rest of the bands older cuts its one that has been tried, tested and tweaked in the live arena and that sanding down of the rough edges has paid off in this final version of the cut which George has so expertly pored over during mixing and mastering. One of those tunes with a deceptive tempo as it slowly burns, building as it plays out before reaching a crescendo with a raw and emotive quality, its a stomper of a brash affair that sees the Reading Post Hardcore outfit make heavier use of the Doyle’s jackhammer footwork. He also provides some interesting and almost tribal fills that resonate around some dissonant moments in the lead guitar work from Max Ashworth, the drum sound George has helped create in the studio driving it home, Doyle and bassist Jay Rozentals complementing each other as the bands powerful rhythm section, building the dynamic and forming the backbone of the track. The vocal performance from Al Bristow subliminally exudes confidence, something that comes with that time spent performing the track live and as a result there is more punch in the more aggressive moments with the screamed finale being up there with his finest and a moodier edge to those which are less so. All in all, a powerhouse performance from a heavy weight act in their prime [8.5/10]

“Take It Or Leave It” is out now and available over at bandcamp.