If there’s any band that’s worked harder than Risk in the last four years they certainly flew under my radar. After triumphantly returning in early 2020 and getting sidelined by the pandemic, the Boston hardcore unit came back with a vengeance, playing every show they could hop on in the area.
All this led up to the release of their album, Monologue of Misery, in 2022 and their debut appearance at This Is Hardcore. Since then, Risk have appeared at Tied Down, For the Children, toured Europe, and shows all over the US.
The work has paid off, and Risk have earned a large following in the wider scene throughout the States. Not losing any bit of momentum, they released a split with their PAHC brothers Fools Game last year.
Releasing two new tracks on their promo, Demonstration of Destruction, just last week, Risk have proved they've still got their feet pointed in the right direction. The first track, “Gravity,” opens with a nasty riff reminiscent of Hammer Bros.’ “The Kids Are Dead,” eventually bursting into thrash-tinged fury. Brendan’s vocals are just as cutting as they’ve always been, in fact, he’s probably built up his delivery over the last couple years, and the results are vicious.
The band behind him sounds tighter than ever, no doubt helped by the recruitment of drummer Christian Koomey into Risk's ranks. Commenting on Koomey joining the group, vocalist Brendan stated, “Koomey is awesome because he’s an actual hardcore kid who loves hardcore. He’s the man, an actual Terminator when it comes to drumming. He love’s being on the road. Can drink one or two beers. Great guy”
“Gravity” closes out with a powerful feature from Chris Cesarini of fellow Boston hardcore band Street Power. The vocalist has the perfect buildup to his entrance and doesn't leave the listener disappointed.
While we wait for the next Risk album, the band has offered a new music video for "Gravity" that No Echo is psyched to premiere today:
Elaborating on the lyrics of the song, Brendan said:
“The lyrics for the 'Gravity' are based around watching the world move while you're standing still. The kids you went to shows with in high school are either dead or married. The world forces you to change when you aren’t ready too. With 'Monologue' I became more vulnerable with my lyrics and more open if that makes sense and I tried to follow that idea into this tape.”
Brendan’s lamentation of the changing world around him fits with the opening sample taken from the game Red Dead Redemption 2 which follows a group of outlaws in the old west trying to survive in a world that is moving forward without them. It’s easy to see bands like Risk in this light as people move on from this quasi-outlaw lifestyle that hardcore still clasps onto.
The track that follows "Gravity" on Demonstration of Destruction, “T.I.M.E.," features vocals from another friend of the band, Clemo from Fools Game, as well as Miyagi from fellow Boston bruisers, The World. Brendan also admits that these tracks will be part of a larger release stating, “We are doing an LP that will come out maybe early next year via Triple B Records. The Demonstration of Destruction tapes will be out in September via Collyde and Triple B.”
Risk will be hitting up the East Coast this August with California’s Pull Your Card which sees them hitting dates in Brooklyn, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and of course, Boston. They will also be playing a show in Atlanta on September 1st:
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