Review: “Vaya Con Dios” by Smoke AxD

The age of the supergroup continues to throw up some interesting combinations and Smoke AxD is no exception. The brainchild of bassist Hoya Roc (ex-Madball, Dmize), a lover of heavy music and cannabis who had songs and lyrics just waiting to be brought to life, the project came to fruition as he found like minded musicians to join him. First was long time friend Lord Ezec (Crown of Thornz, Skarhead), then Sean Martin (Hatebreed, Twitching Tongues) and vocalist Danny Diablo (Crown of Thornz, Skarhead). Not being able to find a suitable drummer as a permanent addition, guests Riggs Ross (Hatebreed, Madball) and Dimi Douvas (Crown of Thonrz, Stillsuit) make their auditions, meaning the project is New York Hardcore all day long. Chris “Zeuss” Harris (Death Before Dishonor, Throwdown, Earth Crisis) was the obvious choice to produce and record…

While all the musicians have a mutual love of riffs and spliffs, there was never for a second going to be any reinventing of the wheel with the output of Smoke AxD and in “Vaya Con Dios” they offer five cuts in straight to the point Hardcore that circles the three minute mark like a vulture eying up its prey. A mid tempo chugger, opening cut “The Codes we Chose” has a sinister edge, a warped effect giving it a different angle with a kind of “Territory” era Sepultura vibe to the overall sound, as if that was part of the template they chose. The punchy “From Hate we Came” offers a little more venom lyrically and has a little more pace and energy to it, crying out for a solo which never materialises. Instead there is change up in the vocals for a gang chant style moment but it doesn’t feel like enough and it becomes clear that it would actually benefit from a guest dropping a verse. Just when you think you’ve understood what Smoke AxD are all about they pull out “Unstoppable“, a cut which does what its two predecessors don’t. A distinctive Hatebreed riff brings more urgency, an unexpected blistering solo feels gives the energy and a melodic break that sounds like it belongs to Soulfly changes the dynamic completely. The lyrics are almost anthemic in comparison with the earlier two cuts and if this track becomes the basis for the band to move forward then they might have a brighter future than the earlier tracks suggest.

How about some Industrial Metal in the vein of Static-X? Flipping the script entirely with programmed drums and an echo effect on the vocals “Vaya Con Dios” sounds like a remix from 1999 and for some it might be an experiment too far. As a track it works because it has a nostalgic quality to it but has to be said it’s not something you’d expect from this outfit and leaves the EP sounding like something of a rarities collection. There is time for one more in “Smoke All Day” and fortunately it doesn’t find the band offering up a hip-hop cut with Cypress Hill vibes. Instead it is lyrically the track that the band were named after and has everything you could want from them shoehorned into one sub four minute cut. Solid guitars, fleeting moments of lead and barked lyrics about wanting to do nothing more than live in a purple haze. It doesn’t have to be complex to be fun but this feels like an oddball collection of chemistry experiments that needs some fine tuning… [6/10]

Track Listing

1. The Codes we Chose
2. From Hate we Came
3. Unstoppable
4. Vaya Con Dios
5. Smoke All Day

“Vaya Con Dios” by Smoke AxD is out 7th May 2024 via Casa De Roc