Review: “Flesh And Weapon” by Rescue Cat

Originally founded in Lombardy in early 2023 Italian Metallic Hardcore quartet Rescue Cat began as friends in the local scene. They introduced themselves in 2024 with “Trust No One“, a single that featured on a compilation titled “Representing Northern Italy Hardcore” from fellow pit warriors Jorelia. That was so well received that it paved the way for them to perform at both Venezia Hardcore and Built to Blast Festivals, earning new fans and friends all along the way. Inking a deal with Time To Kill Records, drummer Gianluca “Lelas” De Rosa, bassist Alessandro “Sandrino” Biesuz, guitarist Ruggero Pelà and vocalist Vittoria “Vicky” Brandoni are now given the opportunity to share their sonic creations with a debut record comprising songs that have been tried, tested and proven in the live arena.

“Flesh And Weapon” is no ordinary record. It’s a concept album that muses on themes like shame and love, religious guilt, motherhood and girlhood, body horror, and trauma. Those haunting narratives are combined with pure unadulterated and unfiltered rage with the bands mission to be a voice for the voiceless. What does that sound like? Well… Armed for the apocalypse with two step-able riffs that slow to a mid tempo breakdown, 97 second opener “Enter the sewer trap” is a mauling of razor sharp tooth and vicious claw with vocalist Vittoria “Vicky” Brandoni stylistically reminiscent  of Candace Kucsulain from Walls of Jericho. After that all out Metallic Hardcore assault on the senses, the script is flipped to introduce a little melody with some Hardcore Punk riffage as the backdrop to the caustic throat shredding vocals in “Who’s the killer?“. Just as hard hitting but from a different angle with a different weapon, it showcases that this band have more to them than initially meets the ear. Summersaulting back to the all out raw aggression “Soft/quiet/cruel” finds Nicolò from Jorelia adding a verse to a cut with enough bounce and jackhammer footwork to set off any circle pit. His bark is just as vicious as hers and the change in tone makes for a really nice contrast. The venomous tongue knows end to rage with the blistering “End me, coward” a vent of pure catharsis. A bombastic bass line and crashing cymbal hits make this one something to let loose too and an easy win.

A few Post-Hardcore riffs come into play with “Malice practice“, a tune to help you breathe more easily that features Norman Bates vocalist Junkie. Those riffs don’t stop the whirlwind of percussive hammering or a slick breakdown that slides into downtempo with consummate ease from taking place and the combination of the two is as refreshing as ice in your favourite beverage on a hot summers day. That thunderstorm of drums continues into “My own demise“, a demonstration of restless and relentless power, the likes of which you usually get in Black Metal. Crunchy riffs satisfy as Vicky roars “Kill the lights!” over and over, the concepts underneath these songs there on the lyric sheet if you want them. Rescue Cat are a band who play with tempo but ultimately love breakneck speed and that in turn means the nuances come into play over multiple listens. Their sound isn’t simple but isn’t complex either, striking a balance between high energy, full caffeine all out attack and thought provoking lyrical narrative that is hard to replicate because the depth is there if you wish to swim in the ocean. Screamo band vocalist from Tel Aviv Mayoulivetoburyme joins the party for “Mother to no one“, the musicians going all out attack with melancholic underpinning. In the early 2000’s this would have been dubbed Metalcore, such is the nature of the riffage that flies over bursts of blast beats and its such a release of negative energy that its darkly beautiful. Saving the title track to last “Flesh And Weapon” has a clean vocal layer underneath the screamed one for the first time. A crash course in how to make high energy incendiary and savage Metallic Hardcore, this record is a gift that keeps giving [9/10]

Track Listing

1. Enter the sewer trap
2. Who’s the killer?
3. Soft/quiet/cruel (ft. Nicolò of Jorelia)
4. End me, coward
5. Malice practice (ft. Junkie of Norman Bates)
6. My own demise
7. Mother to no one (ft. Mayoulivetoburyme)
8. Flesh & weapon

“Flesh And Weapon” by Rescue Cat is out 14th February 2025 via Time To Kill Records and is available over at bandcamp.