Since dropping their debut demo in 2016, Boston's Firewalker has released a slew of top-notch releases. Though they aren't the most prolific hardcore bands around, when they do decide to release something, they make it count.
Now a quintet, Firewalker has returned with Hell Bent, their sophomore album. The 9-song collection is a testament to the power of no-nonsense hardcore, with songs that get to their point without any of the superfluous musical arrangement bullshit that plagues so many other records. The title track featuring guest vocals from Justice Tripp (Trapped Under Ice, Angel Du$t) is one of my favorite things they've done so far.
Hell Bent just dropped last week, and yes, it's a heater:
The Firewalker crew were nice enough to send me a list of 5 records that helped inspire the material and essence of Hell Bent.
Suffice to say, you should already be familiar with the following selections. But in a way, I'm kinda jealous if you haven't heard them yet, because you're in for a treat.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Madball, Set it Off (1994)
Madball is one of the singularly most important bands to Firewalker. The trajectory of Ball of Destruction to Demonstrating My Style is unmatched. I’ve long thought that Spoiler Speak’s review of Ball of Destruction was one of the drivers behind our first demo (who wouldn’t want to do a pick slide à la Vinnie Stigma after reading that), but as I’ve grown up with the band, the Madball records I listen to regularly have changed. Thus, I offer you Set it Off. —Cecelia Halle (guitar)
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Slapshot, Step On It (1988)
We are named after a Slapshot song so I thought it would be fitting to point to this record as a core inspiration, especially in terms of lyrical delivery. I find that after listening to these songs just once you already know the lyrics by heart, which I think is a quality I have always tried to emulate. —Sophie Hendry (vocals)
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Slayer, Seasons in the Abyss (1990)
"Expendable Youth" into "Dead Skin Mask."..a perfect transition. We’re not the first hardcore band to be influenced by Slayer and we shant be the last. And that’s a good thing. Sarah and I jammed Seasons in the Abyss a lot while working out the songs on Hell Bent. Its influence is infused throughout the record. —Cecelia and Sarah King (guitars)
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Crown of Thornz, Train Yard Blues (1995)
It was October 15, 2021. Crown of Thornz was playing the Middle East Upstairs and I was in the crowd watching them play. Like any good NYHC fan, I was familiar with Train Yard Blues and had seen some footage of them playing CBGBs in the '90s—but this...this was different.
Something must have been in the air that night because Mike Dijan’s tone went straight through my heart and, in that moment, changed my life. I haven’t been the same since. —Cecelia
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Killing Time, Brightside (1989)
At this point, you’re probably like, “we get it, you like New York Hardcore.” Well, just in case I needed to reinforce the point, I’d like to briefly discuss Killing Time’s 1989 album “Bright Side.” As a guitarist in a hardcore band, I have often contemplated what makes the perfect NYHC tone.
"So, to finally get some answers, I decided to email Carl Porcaro. I won’t reveal his secrets, but he was incredibly thoughtful and generous with what he shared with me. Thanks, Carl! —Cecelia
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hell Bent is available now via Triple B Records.
Firewalker tour dates:
7/4 - Washington DC @ Rhizome (Hell Bent Record Release)
7/11 - Los Angeles, CA @ 1720 @ Triple B Records x Sound & Fury Showcase w/ Mindforce, Fury, Conservative Military Image, Hold My Own
8/9 - Philadelphia, PA @ the Rotunda
8/10 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Rock Room
8/11 Cleveland, OH @ TBD
8/12 - Detroit, MI @ Edgemen Printing
8/13 - Chicago, IL @ TBD
8/14 - Indianapolis, IN @ Black Circle
8/15 - Louisville, KY @ TBD
8/16 - Columbus, OH @ Dirty Dungarees
8/17 - New York, NY @ TBD
Tagged: firewalker
