Brick By Brick - Hive Mentality

Share this on Facebook | Share this on Twitter

After a period of differences that torn both musical genres apart, Metal and Hardcore became close again in a point that the second became plenty of musical influences of the first, and NUCLEAR ASSAULT, S.O.D., M.O.D. and others are widely known as the pioneers of Crossover along D.R.I. and others. And the blend of Hardcore and Metal is so strong that even today many good releases with such musical format still appear. And “Hive Mentality” is a violent musical assault committed by the New York ghettoblasters of BRICK BY BRICK.

It’s a brutal and violent form of music, sounding modern and actual in a way similar to HATEBREED, but keeping the Crossover aspects in the same vein of S.O.D. It’s a new insight into the genre that is personal and different, but still with that infamous feeling of N.Y.H.C. that many grew up listening to. And how their music sound violent and nasty, but with the ample use of very good musical arrangements and excellent tempos. The sound quality of “Hive Mentality” is really excellent. Yes, because as it keeps the album brutal and oppressive, it sounds clean for the sake of the listeners’ understanding. It was built to be destructive, but in a way that anyone can understand without problems, and with a fine choice for the instrumental tunes.

The quartet assaults the ears of everyone that listens to their music. And “Hive Mentality” with its raw mix of Metal brutality with Hardcore feeling on the guitars, the oppressive and nasty weight of “Bad Sign” (it’s truly hard to not agitate hearing this one), the nasty voices during the very good slow tempos of “Battleground”, the insane and funny “Bar is Open” (these simple guitars are excellent), and the sharp Hardcore feeling that fills “In the Ruins” are the ones that shows their musical firepower. But their version for SKID ROW’s “Slave to the Grind” and MOTÖRHEAD’s “Iron Fist” are excellent (and both gained a new life on their hands, especially due the work from bass guitar and drums).  BRI|CK BY BRICK is really a fine heir to NYHC scene, showing with “Hive Mentality” that it is still relevant.

Originality: 7
Songwriting: 10
Memorability: 9
Production: 9