Review: “Walk With Tha Talk” by Street Soldier

Lets talk about sex, lies and bloody statistics for a moment. Yorkshire Beatdown Hardcore crew Street Soldier have played hundreds of shows since they first appeared on the scene in 2017. They’ve toured up and down the United Kingdom and played every Diner, Drive-In and Dive that would let them use their electricity (and a few that wouldn’t) and believe it or not their top #10 tunes according to Spotify have amassed an incredible 1.47 million streams. That’s something which makes vocalist Scotty Hall, drummer and vocalist Laurie ‘Drill Sgt’ Caudwell, guitarist Ollie Altham and bassist Cam Bland successful DIY or DIE heavy hitters. Mixed and mastered by Mychal Soto (Peeling Flesh, Krocophile, Infectious Waste) is their seventh studio record and you know what’s coming…

71 seconds of Hardcore with distinctive 90’s vibes and inspirations in the likes of Biohazard slaps you across the face as “Here Comes The SLDR” with Laurie ‘Drill Sgt’ Caudwell delivering some almost tribal drum fills. Classically fierce, this is one of those tunes that want another verse and chorus from but instead stops on a dime when you least expect it. Play it twice over for shits and giggles. Taking the same blueprint “Walk With Tha Talk” then introduces hip-hop style beat loop as vocalist Scotty Hall mixes rap screams with Death growls over riffs that border on beatdown. There is even a Slam inspired moment at the half way point as the quartet push their boundaries and test their Metal. In truth they’ve shared stages with plenty of Deathcore and Beatdown bands during their run to this point to more than hold their own. The naysayers get their heads served to their adversaries on a platter with the lyrical roasting on this one. The quality is undeniable, the four piece improving in both the musicianship and writing departments with every fresh cut they deliver.

Cutting the beat loop and turning up the guitars “Strength Proven” continues the bands mantra of strength, loyalty, discipline and respect as the underdogs rise up once more to deliver another 90’s inspired cut. There are even a couple of Death Metal vocal moments thrown in for good measure before a rampaging blasting section that will crack a smile on the face of even the hardest of Metal head. Proud of where they come from “Yorkshire Murdacore” is an obvious choice of cover and bringing out Six Ft Ditch for it just serves to add a spice that’s nice. Beatdown Hardcore all the way, this venomous rant and rave that calls out their enemies is a little more savage than some of their earlier offerings but has just as much quality. Simple and lethally affective, the formula Street Soldier apply has as much energy as a Molotov Cocktail and you know these tracks are going to set off mosh pits live. Long live the warrior. Long live Street Soldier. [8/10]

Track Listing

1. Here Comes The SLDR
2. Walk With Tha Talk
3. Strength Proven
4. Yorkshire Murdacore (Six Ft Ditch cover ft. Six Ft Ditch)

“Walk With Tha Talk” by Street Soldier is out 29th November 2024