Review: “In Defense Of Labor” by Edict (2nd Anniversary)

Having risen to providence with their debut self titled EP in 2022, Metallic Hardcore Nazi killers Edict inked a deal in blood with Unbeaten Records for a sophomore record. The “unfriendly sounding” quintet formed of both current and former members of Bury Your Dead, Dropdead, Learn, Ruin it, Darklands, Crossdragger and The Full Effect returned to the tried, tested and true and recorded “In Defense Of Labor” with the team that made that debut a punch in the face. Recorded at Silver Bullet Studios in Burlington, Connecticut by production and engineering duo Greg Thomas (END, Adrienne, Cult Leader) and Chris Teti (Vadim Taver, Your Spirit Dies, Chained to the Bottom of the Ocean) before being handed to Bill Henderson (Deathbeds, Pain Of Truth, Knifeplay) at Azimuth Mastering in New Jersey, if the first one was a warning shot…

…then this was always going to be the kill shot. Building on elements of the first record “Neck Dissection” hits with urgency and intensity as it reaches into the void between Metallic Hardcore and Deathcore to deliver hard hitting breakdowns and mosh friendly riffs. Barbed and abrasive with a little more intensity than its predecessor, the opening cut crushes all that stand it the bands path before the churning “Insurgent” goes bass heavy with mid tempo groove. Lyrically the title track, this one has a distinctive Death Metal flair to it, the screamed backing vocals playing into the hands of the creator of the artwork. It has a headbangable stomp to it that is fearfully addictive and it has to be said that the simplicity of it is part of what makes it lethally effective. A 97 second outburst of pure hatred “Traitor” finds Joe Krewko spitting and snarling his way through pages of text on those who would oppress the common man at the behest of a ruling class. Old School riffs delivered with mid tempo crush obliterate the brain cells, the pounding rhythmic dynamic a pleasure you can’t measure. Once more with feeling? Another short, sharp poison dwarf cut from the dark side of the tracks completes the set in “King Of Desperation” and is arguably the pick of the bunch. Abrasive riffs are aided and abetted by a crisp clean drum sound as the five piece get rowdy and vicious with it, their spray and pray approach meaning that they hit the target more often than they will ever get credit for [7.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Neck Dissection
2. Insurgent
3. Traitor
4. King Of Desperation

“In Defense Of Labor” by Edict was released on 8th December 2023 via Unbeaten Records