Review: “Dust And Ashes” by Day By Day

Having celebrated a decade of destruction by completing the Flatspot Records World Tour with Speed and Whispers for company in 2024, South Florida based Hardcore crew Day By Day now offer up a fourth record in “Dust and Ashes”, their first since 2018 full length “Nowhere To Run”. The five piece wanted to avoid a modern and polished sound, and instead chose to record live in the studio in order to capture something raw and heartfelt. Recorded and mixed by Andy Nelson (Weekend Nachos, 200 Stab Wounds, Full Of Hell) at Bricktop Studios in Chicago before being mastered by Brad Boatright (Pig Destroyer, Gatecreeper, Dropdead) at Audiosiege, together they’ve created something purposefully hard hitting, centred around the uncertainties in life and friendships.

Sixty Seven seconds is all it takes for Day By Day to establish themselves with “Respect 101“, a vicious little ditty in Metallic Hardcore with death growls from main vocalist Ian Dolan that finishes with blast beats from drummer Blake Kerr. Venomous from the very start it’s a shot across the shot across the bows warning the person who crossed them to stay in their lane. “Until Then… It’s War” finds the quintet joined by Dalton Rivas of Three Knee Deep for a cathartic spleen venting session soaked in a powerful rhythmic dynamic wrapped in straight-to-your-face Hardcore. Rivas brings that brutal quality, spitting blood with his vocal lines, the band backing it up with abrasive guitars and pummelling percussion. As if wanting to prove that wasn’t a flash in the pan moment, Day By Day summon the two steppers to the pit with the pulsating cut that is “The Poison“. It’s straight up old school hardcore violence but with a crushing modern guitar tone that gives it a satisfying crunch as the band play on the dynamic and keep throwing the punches.

Turning up the intensity for a 46 second burst of further aggression adds fuel to the fire of this already towering inferno as “Peace Or Annihilation?” shatters any illusions of any form of melody or clean vocal rearing its ugly head. Instead the band tear through the cut like a lion eating its prey, the vocals perhaps reminding of “Our Lady Of Annihilation” by Most Precious Blood. Tribal drums and groove laden guitars give “Still Bleeds” another dimension while an off kilter solo is a nice touch. While it may not actually sound as raw as other live from the floor records, it captures the bands live energy perfectly. Last but by no means least, the sequel to “Fakes and Liars” from the bands 2015 debut “Never Ending Lies” brings home the bacon in style, addressing bands they have crossed paths with in the past who are disingenuous. You’ll be screaming along with the lyric “We stand for unity, you stand for nothing” by the end of the first spin and if not, you need to go and see a shrink to find out what’s going on [8/10]

Track Listing

1. Respect 101
2. Until Then… It’s War (ft. Dalton Rivas of Three Knee Deep)
3. The Poison
4. Peace Or Annihilation?
5. Still Bleeds
6. Fakes & Liars II

“Dust And Ashes” by Day By Day is out 17th January 2025 via Flatspot Records