Ho hum, here’s some straight edge, ankle bearing, angry at the world, every one who isn’t straight edge sucks, hardcore. It’s typically beefy and crunchy and will appease the hoodie wearing masses who enjoy XBishopX, XRepresentX and other XclichedX straight edge hardcore bands.
Opening with the now over used “Unleash Hell” sample from Gladiator (there should be some rules whereby a movie sample can only be used a certain number of times, and that Straight edge hardcore bands CANNOT use Gladiator samples) to start “At The Gates”, Never Again rumble and shout their way through 11 gruff tracks of by the numbers straight edge hardcore. There’s nothing remotely original here, though it comes with the usual level of conviction and burly breakdowns such as “Walker” and “Point Taken” and the occasional power chord filler gallop such as “The Rookie” and “Texas Ranger” and even a piece meal solo here an there as heard in “Ohio State of Mind”.
Rendered with a nice crunchy production and the expected vocal gruffness (and guest performances from other obscure hardcore bands), Never Again have all the required elements and certainly reside on the appropriate label, but in the large scheme of things are just another angry straight edge group of kids brining noting to the genre except more of the same.
