10th July 2025

Review: “Still Hungry” by Toxic Youth

What can we say about Italian Hardcore crew Toxic Youth that hasn’t been said in the past thirty two years? How about we start with a little history? Originally formed in 1990 in the city of Milan by vocalist Alessandro Di Lallo, guitarist Christiano Perinelli, bassist Massimiliano Novo and drummer King Grind, the four piece shared stages with everyone from Lacuna Coil to Sadist in a seventeen year run before disbanding in 2007. In that time they fired three warning shots with a demo in 1993 followed by 1996 debut full length “Real Attitudes... Not Words!!” and then finally a split EP in 2002 with Calibro 9. However that wasn’t enough and the band felt there was unfinished business and so after a decade in the wilderness the band returned with new drummer Hichy (Calibro 9, Cattiva Condotta). Hammering out 2020 album “Back To You-th” via WTF Records before sharing stages with Sick Of It All and Siberian Meat Grinder found them reclaiming their place before the great plague years struck. After a short break the band entered ADSR Decibel Studio with producer Carlo Meroni (Schizo, Gory Blister, Ulvedharr) to record album number three between June and July 2024 and now, wrapped in artwork from Motorcity Graphics in Turin, “Still Hungry” is ours…

While you should never judge a book by its cover, when it comes to Hardcore, fifteen tracks clocking in at just thirty three minutes usually means a collection of sub two minute short sharp and insightful tunes that hit you like quick fire jabs from a bare knuckle boxer. The irony that is opening cut “Time To Kill” with the band now being signed to Time To Kill Records won’t be lost on fans, the gang chant of the song title making it something of an unintended anthem for the label. Hardcore Punk riffs galore with flavours of mid-career Misfits are more than enough to get a mosh pit going and when the band repeat the approach with “The First” they’re off to a flyer. This one features a guest appearance from Manuel Merigo of IN.SI.DIA as the band move into Crossover Thrash territory with a whammy bar drop solo that simply slaps. New York Hardcore Punk influences flow through the energetic “Just For Fun (Better Play Loud)“, a rebellious tune that simply says this is what we do for shits and giggles and like the Dropkick Murphys it ain’t bitter. Not afraid to use their native language to their advantage, the 60 second burst that is “Sai Cosa c’è (V.F.F.)” includes blast beats galore as Hichy demonstrates his powers. By this point Toxic Youth are showing off and the funky Suicidal Tendencies introduction to “The Last Fighter” is sheer old school class. Novo brings the bass drives to “Nothing“, a fist in the air anthem to get the blood pumping with two full throttle verses to keep the headbangers on ice.

While “Da Crew (Dirty Hands Broken Backs)” is arguably the finest single cut on the record, the rapid fire “Join Da Resistance” is the lyrical title track. A tune which asks the youth to question everything in pursuit of a better world the sentiment resonates now more than ever with corporate greed and corrupt politicians hiding in plain sight all around the globe. Fruitless attempts at contacting God for “The Answer” to life’s question has a nice tongue in cheek humour about it, as does the stab at gold diggers that is “Money Honey“, the band finding the space between Hardcore Punk and Crossover Thrash with consummate ease. A bombastic bass introduction to “War Games” finds Toxic Youth in Sick Of It All territory, the bouncy chantable chorus met with the might of a thumping couple of verses in politically and socially aware fashion. The fun doesn’t stop their either with the crunchy “Not for Sale” having all the verve and swagger that you could possibly want on a Hardcore record as well as a juicy pick slide. As old school as they come “Casciavit” (or “Screwdriver“) is the albums crowning glory, an anthem directed towards the working class of Milan. It’s everything the album is on one easy to swallow victory pill, finishing off the record with a metaphorical cherry on the cake [7/10]

Track Listing

1. Time to Kill
2. The First (ft. Manuel Merigo of IN.SI.DIA)
3. Just For Fun (Better Play Loud)
4. All my Life
5. Sai Cosa c’è (V.F.F.)
6. The Last Fighter
7. Nothing
8. Da Crew (Dirty Hands Broken Backs)
9. Join Da Resistance
10. The Answer
11. Money Honey
12. War Games
13. Break your Phone
14. Not for sale
15. Casciavit