25th February 2024

Review: “Immortal Pain” by Worst Doubt

“‘Immortal Pain’ is about the idea of acceptance that any life comes with endless suffering. Life will hurt you in any way possible. It’s up to you to accept if you want to be its eternal victim and endure a lifetime of pain or deal with it and move forward.” ~ Worst Doubt

Known for their punishing and destructive sound, French quintet Worst Doubt, who cite influences in Merauder, Suffocation and King Nine have been creating brutal Metallic Hardcore for ten years. After a demo they dropped a well received 2021 full length “Extinction“ but have now built a rawer sound with the help of Maxime Smadka at Chateau Vergogne to create something more in keeping with the lyrical themes of “Immortal Pain“. Mixing and mastering from was done by Cody Davidson (Sanguisugabogg)…

…and here he has nailed that distinctive early 90’s Metallic Hardcore sound perfectly, refencing the very same bands cited as influences in doing so. Punchy and aggressive from the very start “Ruination” sets the tone with down tuned riffs and from both guitarists that play off one another with time signature changes in the rhythmic dynamic to keep things playful and interesting. The vocals are a classic bark and by the time “Consume” hits if you’ve not witnessed Worst Doubt before, lets just say that you’re in for a classic, uncomplicated good time fuelled by hatred for the system and American Hardcore. Mosh parts are plentiful and bounce is in abundance, the energy clearly created to incite mosh pit violence before a fleeting moment of vibrant lead offers a search light in the darkness that is quickly snuffed out. “Machine Way” keeps things tight with an almost tribal drum sound during a short introduction, the cut having a distinctive yet familiar sounding main riff that has instant appeal. The accenting on the vocal is minimal so if you didn’t know the band were French there is nothing to suggest they were anything but American. A lyrical narrative about people being sheep and following the masses blindly is at the heart of this one and it’s a tale told with passion as the band rage against the machine with enough venom that in parts of the globe they’d be on a watch list. Title track “Immortal Pain” is pure 90’s nostalgia with old school riffs galore, the raw edged nature of the recording helping to fuel that fire. Vocally on this one Hugo Zerrad sounds like he’s about to spontaneously combust, bursting into flame with the rage he holds within and coupled with a classic hardcore riff or three, its a stone cold winner. However the band save the best to last with the gang chant laden “City Of Blight“, a vicious little ditty armed with a knuckle duster and gunning for a fight. A fleeting whammy bar moment threatens to throw us into Crossover Thrash territory but the band hold back, sticking to what they know best. This one is easy listening, a pleasure from start to finish and great old school fun [7.5/10]

Track Listing