Review: “Self Titled” by Break Them

After a first single inspired by the classic first person shooter BioShock and a collection of no less than five stand alone singles in 2023 with a couple of guest appearances from members of Bitewound and Dispute thrown in for good measure, a debut EP from Peterborough Hardcore quartet Break Them was always inevitable. Turning stages to sawdust with everyone from Kryptess to Scarfold enroute helped build the momentum and on the evidence of their prior convictions, it seems they have harnessed the ability to capture their live energy light lightening in a bottle to commit it to tape. It’s DIY or DIE so are we about to witness the power of hardcore? Break Them, we know what you did last summer…

Setting the tone in true Hardcore Punk style, opening cut “Entry Wound” makes use of a classic spoken word sample, underpinning it with a funky bassline and a raw around the edges drum sound, giving it the feel of a demo and instantly cracking a smile on the face of anyone who loves the 80’s tape trading era. You know its going to be fun and its barely even started. An eponymous song from a band is always an intriguing prospect and with “Break Them“, the band reach the inception level madness that is “Break Them” by Break Them from *ahem* EP “Break Them“. The unholy trinity. As a track, its a two steppers delight that instantly gets the head nodding, the English grit of the vocals offering a nostalgic touch and when they’re roaring about pissing on graves during the slow groove of an almost Beatdown passage it’s the absolute Chef’s Kiss. Evil Grin time.

Splitting the record clean in half like hatchet to the skull “No Steps Back” us a fast one with a rapid fire verse and a chorus that has been designed to command an audience to scream the song title back at the band as they destroy stages. They’re not reinventing the wheel but they don’t need to, instead creating something with instant appeal in familiarity with slick old school Hardcore riffs and plenty of bite. Hell they even have a few death growls in their armoury just to keep you on your toes.

Staccato riff breaks give “From The Pain We Rise” a stompy slap, the harsh backing vocals that scream “We Rise!” in a shriller tone adding depth in texture. A classy and by no means virtuoso solo is a nice touch, very much in keeping with the high calibre output that the band want to put a hole in your chest. There is an undeniable groove to “All Bark, No Bite“, a classic Hardcore tune cut from the same cloth as tracks like “Salvation” by Sore Teeth. Sampling Julia Garner as Ruth Langmore in Ozark is a moment of magic, the crushing downtempo finale perfectly weighted to the sentiment of the track. As debut records go, this is a slap in the face! [7.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Entry Wound
2. Break Them
3. No Steps Back
4. From The Pain We Rise
5. All Bark, No Bite

“Self Titled” by Break Them is out 14th June 2024 and is available over at bandcamp