ScenePointBlank.com

The first time I saw Outbreak was at the "last" Suicide File at the ICC Church in Boston during the baseball playoffs of '03. I had no clue whom Outbreak was except the fact that they were from Maine of all places and the kids went absolutely ape shit for them. After that show they were quickly signed to Bridge Nine Records and the EP You Make Us Sick was released and some tours were made and the next thing we know everyone across the nation was fighting for the mic screaming, "No one likes you! No one cares!"

Now here we are midway through 2006 and Outbreak drops their full length, Failure onto the hardcore world and the primary reports weren't good. I saw way too many threads on messageboards on how Outbreak has slowed down and lost their touch and gosh darn it they just weren't as pissed off as they were on You Make Us Sick. My hopes were shattered.

So here am I at 9:23 in the AM in my boxers listening to Failure and I'm starting to think I should never read another thread from anymore armchair Soulseek loving critics, because they obviously have no clue on what the fuck they are talking about. Failure rips from opening track "Down Not Out" to the ender "Square One". If anything Outbreak has gotten more proficient with their pissed snotty hardcore attack with more solid drumming, a bit of NYHC hardcore influence, and just better song writing.

Outbreak is still pissed as all hell but they now deliver it in a more concise attack ripe with thunderous breakdowns, squealing guitars, and tons of sing along parts. What else do you kids need from a hardcore album? What the hell is with all you naysayer and shit-talkers? You wouldn't know a good album if one downloaded itself and put it on repeat on your iPod. Oh I see what the problem is; some of the "wrong kids" are getting into Outbreak so they can't be cool anymore. Yeah that happens a lot in hardcore these days as everyone tries to out-cool each other with hearing the new bands first and then hating on them next year when people start liking them too. I call this the "Terror was Awesome in 2002 Syndrome". It's a disease that's hurting hardcore with holier than thou attitudes, lunchroom cliques, and other too scene snobbery.

Well I hate to tell you kids, you weren't exactly born with the SOIA "S/T" EP sticking out your ass so put up with the n00bs listening to great hardcore or drop out already. I for one don't need your elitist attitude. Yeah buddy you're only as cool as what you get to download first. Thanks for supporting hardcore, asshole.

Anyhow, sorry got a bit off track there, Failure is solid, great hardcore album that still shows that Outbreak is still as fucking pissed as there were when they were playing basements and VFWs in Maine. If you love hardcore get Failure and then go run around your neighborhood giving everyone the finger and tell the world to "fuck off". Failure shall provide you with the soundtrack. 8.5/10

TakeTheRisk.net

I’ve always liked OUTBREAK’s carefree hardcore/punk offerings, even though the simplistic music of their debut “You Make Us Sick” didn’t exactly spray with awe-inspiring creativity. However, with their second full-length the quintet from Maine takes things to the next level and the result is a stirring album from start to finish.

Holy shit, “Failure” features 16 tracks in only 20 minutes of music and every single one shreds like there was no tomorrow. The band still sounds like KID DYNAMITE would cover old FLOORPUNCH material, but OUTBREAK’s song-writing skills have grown impressively. Not that “Failure” is a diverse album (at least every song sticks to ridiculously fast beats), but the band added a whole lot more catchiness to their simplistic offerings. Ryan O’ Connor’s raspy vocals still come along as aggressive and pissed-off as it gets, while the guitars race though the songs with cutting energy. The trashy guitar-solos of “Test Of Time” and “Losing Streak” kill massively, whereas the various two-step parts and sing-a-longs invite for a good bedroom-mosh and uncontrolled finger-pointing. “Built To Break” reminds me a lot of the ingenuity of early SUICIDAL TENDENCIES material, while the unbridled all-out angriness of “Failure” brings back the spirit of Boston’s hardcore-peers SLAPSHOT. The concluding “Square One” features a nice vocal-battle between Ryan O’ Connor and former COMEBACK KID singer Scott Wade, what makes a totally awesome final track. Additionally, Jim Siegel (Outpost Studios) produced “Failure” with plenty of gusto. The entire album sounds supremely powerful, crisp, yet never too polished, what only adds to the driving character of OUTBREAK’s material.

Armed with 16 relentless hardcore-tunes, truly angry lyrics and a rad-looking artwork “Failure” is a must for every fan of stripped-down hardcore. Get into it!

PoisonFree.com

Knowing them since their last EP, I was happy to get a hand on this full length. Outbreak a a pure hardcore-punk band. Avoiding clichés, this is pissed and sincere old school hardcore as it once was made. Mixing 80ies influences from Negative Approach and Black Flag when speaking about the pure sound and hostility as well as some nice melodies from later HC from NY, all wrapped in a total state of the art production (done by Jim Siegel), not too much can go wrong with this one. One of the biggest benefits of this band is their vocalist. Being pissed as hell, he is screaming in a classic and uncheesy way, and adds a lot to their sound with that. His sometime stakkato-like voice fits perfectly to their sound – just listen to tracks like „voices in my head“ to see this perfect symbiosis. A choir supports him here and there, offering more diversity and energy. Musically, Outbreak concentrate on fast parts mostly, with a solid rythm section and nice yet of course not too new riffing. Danceable breakdowns are in their place and offered as well, again in a nice sincere and honest way, avoiding them sounding like „okay, we need danceable parts, what to do?“. A nice addition are those superfast solos from the guitars, bringing a smile to our face. All this is presented precise and to the point – 16 tracks in 20 minutes of course keep up the level of energy quite easy. That said, tracks are mostly around a minute long, underlining the pure character of their music and songwriting. No gimmicks here, no trends, everything is reduced to the necessary minimum, and with that, these songs work really great. A nice guest appearance of the Comeback singer in the final track rounds this up. After I was not able to get into the old school hype of the past months or years, this is the 2nd great old school release of this summer after Betrayeds full length a few weeks ago.

WERS.org

Outbreak pretty much get it. This Maine-based five piece band is one of those quintessential Radiobeat bands because they get it. What do they get? They get that punk and hardcore don’t always have to be two separate things, and they bridge that widening gap with get-off-your-ass ferocity, speed, and a little misanthropy thrown in for good measure.Having a tight and pissed off hardcore-punk sound may not be that notable in the era of Paint It Black and This Is Hell, who do it just as well. But what is notable about Outbreak is the more specific stuff. How about the fact that the average age of the guys in the band is a mere 20 years, which puts them at about the fetus-stage when Black Flag, their clear primary influence, was still plugging away? Or what about the fact that Failure, the band’s new full-length out on Boston’s own Bridge Nine label (vinyl on Think Fast!), is made up of 16 kick-you-in-face hardcore-rock n’ roll anthems that play for a total of just over 20 minutes? Or how could I forget the occasional yet completely bitchin’ guitar solos in songs like “Lessons Learned” and “Test of Time”?

Yes, the artist and the album pretty much have it all because they understand what makes it work. There’s no designated “parts” of songs (melodic mid-tempo part here, brutal breakdown there) because the songs last exactly as long as they should, and there’s just no time to hold them back. The lyrical content is about what you’d expect if you’ve ever listened to Black Flag’s Damaged, but Ryan O’Conner’s passionate and pissed-off delivery make it worthwhile. After relentless touring with the likes of Agnostic Front and Comeback Kid, Outbreak has arrived at a good place with this album. They just plain get it right.

And if that’s not enough to fully recommend the album, then the Demon cover art should be worth the asking price alone.

Smother.net

What do Comeback Kid and Agnostic Front have in common? Both have been graced with Outbreak’s presence on tours. Soon This Is Hell, Modern Life Is War, and Bane will also share that honor. Old school hardcore tenacity with beat-downs for drumming take Outbreak back to the days when hardcore wasn’t a cliché or fashion. Jim Siegel lends his expertise in recording this album—you’d know him if you’ve heard Dropkick Murphys, Blood For Blood, or American Nightmare before. Punked up rhythms with shout-outs, stirring frenetic guitars that chugga-chugga away, and a lack of that breakdown reliance that so many “hardcore” bands have been leaning on the last few years—but that’s not to say there aren’t some breakdowns, in fact the ones that exist on “Failure” are so devastating that they’ll break your legs. Brutal!

Aversion

Much like their last record, Outbreak's latest, "Failure" is a quick blast of 16 tracks in about 20 minutes – taking a slightly different twist to the straight up hardcore for which the label is known through adding in a punk rock influence that seeps into the speedy power chords via some rocked out lead breaks and catchier arrangements. And, of course, those raging vocal sneers, which have more of a bitter and lightly sarcastic edge to 'em that reminds me a lot of Grimple and that kind of thing. Very cool, indeed. Every single track is less than two minutes long, so these kids pretty much cut to the chase and tear right through. "You Make Us Sick" sort of wore out its welcome with me after awhile, and while there's nothing about "Failure" that really hits me over the head or whatnot, this is a better looking/sounding album across the board, so I certainly have no complaints. I can't say enough good things about the vocal delivery, and I dig the general energy of the tunes as well, so… it's a pretty consistent listen through and through, and the fact that it's so short works in its favor. They definitely don't leave much breathing room for getting bored, and that's cool… so I can hang with this shit, for sure.

LambGoat.com

There's something to be said for hardcore acts more interested in blowing the listener away with their sheer intensity than blowing anyone's mind with technical prowess or style. Outbreak is definitely one of these bands and their latest album Failure is an unrelenting twenty-minute hardcore tour-de-force. Unlike many of their irrepressibly positive contemporaries, Outbreak have consistently focused on the negative side of things and this time have created a concept album of sorts dealing with failure (obviously), resignation and hopelessness. It's not a new concept musically or lyrically, but it's just so well done, I can't help enjoying it.

Fans of fast, pissed-off traditional hardcore will definitely want to check out Outbreak if they haven't already. They play the style exceptionally well and provide all the necessary sing-alongs and mosh parts to assure both a fun listen on CD and suitably wild live show. Ryan O'Connor's vocals should be a drawing point to most listeners, as they are fairly unique for the style, sounding a bit like a cross between Kid Dyamite's Jason Shevchuk and a hardcore version of Joey Vindictive. The relatively high-pitched, sneering delivery could turn off some listeners, but I loved it. The Kid Dynamite comparison spreads into the music a bit too, but more in delivery than songwriting, as there is precious little melody in these sixteen tracks.

Despite my previous statement that failure was no groundbreaking subject for a hardcore band, I think it is interesting to see an active band speak so candidly about the relative futility of what they're doing. It's as if they understand that their hard work and dedication can never truly be rewarded financially, but the album itself is a testament to their endurance in the face of that adversity. Interestingly though, the disc's closer features guest vocals from former Comeback Kid vocalist Scott Wade, who split with his band during the same period he recorded this guest spot. It's a fitting final note for Wade as well as for the album, giving a final concrete example of the sort of resignation the album itself deals with.

Bottom Line: This is a rock solid hardcore record with more than enough listenability to make up for any lapses in innovation. Outbreak have delivered consistently since their debut EP and Failure is no exception. Again, while this record probably won't hold much appeal to someone without a strong inclination towards hardcore, it should definitely satisfy any fan of the genre.

HowsYourEdge.com

Ok, hear me out. Now this likely only makes sense to me, but when I listen to this album, I am constantly reminded of Kid Dynamite. Of course, a super fast and pissed KD, but still Kid Dynamite. Add a ton of riffage to that comparison and you have Outbreak. At least, in my head. In your head, you are probably thinking, "who gave this guy the right to review anything?"

Let me take this comparison a little further to see if I can sway any opinions. When I listen to Kid Dynamite, I hear a raw intensity that not many bands pull off. Plenty of bands attempt to achieve this sound, but fall VERY short. Outbreak doesn't fall short. They hit the mark and actually, surpass it. Ryan gives 110% all the time. The rest of the guys, too. Nobody in that band is slacking when they play out live. And coming from Middle O Nowhere, Maine for most of these shows must take a toll. But you don't see them slacking or playing it safe. It's either all or nothing with these dudes. That attitude comes across in this release. The vibe is just right.

GeekBurger.com

Outbreak is one of the most bitter and blunt bands in contemporary hardcore, and they've got a pair of records to prove it. The band's self-explanatory debut, You Make Us Sick, was brief, but long enough for the band to unleash a continuous verbal assault on anything they didn't like. The album's follow-up, Failure, does close to the same thing.

Fueled by a relentless, spit-flinging vocal attack, precise drumming and a dependency on simple, scathing chord progressions, Outbreak's music is modern, by-the-books hardcore. It's in your face and fast, and doesn't break for anything but the occasional mid-paced sing-along, rocked-out guitar riff and fiery guitar solo. Singer Ryan O'Connor, whose throat-grating, rapid-fire shouts bring out the band's character, has a sneering, disgusted vocal tone that snugly fits the blazing music, tasteful gang vocals and lyrics.

Not surprisingly, then, the lyrics are often bitingly cynical. There's not an overwhelming sense of positivism or encouragement or perseverance to Failure. Outbreak puts their effort into the opposite end of the spectrum, fuming about personal demons and broad social ills. Without any bloated metaphors or deep topics, O'Connor writes his lyrics in a plain, conversational manner, and it's a pretty effective technique.

Outbreak isn't about experiments and surprises (although former Comeback Kid vocalist Scott Wade's guest appearance in "Square One" is unexpected). There's nothing overtly flawed about Failure; if you want little more than bitterness and 20 minutes of ripping hardcore, Failure is one of you're best bets.

HangingHex.com

I'll admit, I didn't think I'd be into this. After a couple listens I wasn't feeling it. But then I took one more listen (it's not hard to do when the 16 tracks on here add up to only 20 some-odd minutes) and I realized that I was definitely into this new Outbreak record. Whereas older stuff tended to be incredibly short, fast, and ridiculously to the point (which I'm definitely a fan of) this new record offers a little bit more in the songwriting department. They aren't afraid to repeat a verse or a chorus every now and again. Some songs have bridges, and a solo here and there... holy shit! Either they discovered more songwriting devices or they demo'ed all these songs, realized their full length was probably 15 minutes long, and went back to re-work songs and tack on parts. Whatever the case, it worked for them and I have to say that this new Outbreak stuff is the best so far. Lots of sing-alongs, lots of negativity, and no song longer than 1:45 in length.

PastePunk.com

I attended a "continuing legal education" seminar a couple of days ago about professionalism and balance in one's legal career, and one of the guest speakers said eloquently, "Avoid eating lunch with Eeyore. Eat with Eeyore, become Eeyore." The character that the speaker was referring to was of course, the famously depressed donkey from Winnie Pooh, and the point was pretty clear - spending time with people who wallow in their own sacks of sadness can be contagious. In the case of OUTBREAK, it may be damn near fatal. Titled Failure, OUTBREAK take a baseball bat to life's pleasantries and aim for knocking out the sun. Mostly. There's a bit of a see-saw battle to the band's smokin' hot hardcore style with some hesitation in truly staying within the despondent. Songs like "Lost for Words," "Giving Up, Giving In," "Built to Break," "Losing Streak," and "Wasting Away," connote days of darkness, while "Down Not Out," "Lessons Learned," "New Beginning," and "Test of Time," at least offer a ray of hope. While OUTBREAK may be on the fence concerning their "positive" mental outlook, at least the group's musical direction falls into a neat hard and fast rule. Sixteen songs, 20 minutes, and with only a few pauses in the action to account for some cirlce pits, drum fills, and mild breakdowns. Imagine THE CASUALTIES reared in the hardcore scene (as opposed to that of ye'ole gutterpunk) and committed to writing songs that terrorize for less than two minutes. With no frills, no cheap tricks, and no big-mosh-padding, Failure is a lean, mean, fire-spitting machine.

SicZine.com

These guys have put Maine on the map, and although they are barely out of their 20's, they have already released 2 buzzworthy EP's and have toured relentlessly around the US and abroad over the last 5 years. And here we are present day with their latest offering of driving old school influenced hardcore...

As the old saying goes, "Don't fix what isn't broke". The 16 tracks of blazing punk influenced hardcore range from 30 seconds to 1:45, and clocks out just over 20 minutes. These guys do a great job of keeping things from getting boring, which is usually a problem for this brand of hardcore halfway through a full length.

The lyrics are still pissed off, but there isn't as much venom in the words as there was on "You Make Us Sick." Don't get me wrong, they're still plenty pissed, but their isn't any of the fuck you anthems, but I guess you can't regurgitate the same shit over and over. Things are a bit more introspective this time around. Ryan shows us a little more of what makes him tick. One thing I always liked about his lyrics was that he focused on quality rather than filler, he keeps shit short and to the point.

This was recorded and produced at the Outpost by Jim Siegal, who is arguably the biggest recording name in hardcore. And as you would expect, he did good with "Failure". Even though, "You Make Us Sick," (recorded by Don Fury) sounded good it was a bit to dry and lacked the much needed kick in the balls. This time around however, things sound a lot more full, most notably the bass, which really gets the proper attention. And hell if the recording doesn't showcase Ryan's balls out vocals. He did a wonderful job of capturing the bands intense live sound. Very good.

Holy shit is the layout on this one awesome. I always preferred the actual drawing as opposed to the photoshop stuff, and this is a great example of why. The cover art is a great drawing that shows a guy dressed in his corporate attire with a knife in hand surrounded by some super bad ass demons, and there's also a lantern filled with trapped souls which only adds to the awesomeness. I couldn't have asked for a better layout for the booklet. You get all of the lyrics with a full page picture of each member besides the lyrics, and right in the middle there is dual page picture of the crowd piling onto the singer for a sing along. And CD face layout looks fucking sick as shit with the three eyed demon on it. Good shit. And just look at those colors, I couldn't have asked for more.

Thesis: This is definitely be one of the more talked about releases of the summer, and rightfully so. These guys churn out 16 tracks of blazing hardcore fury, with some of the most pissed off vocals you'll ever hear, and on top of that the packaging is tight as hell. Make sure to add this one to your collections if you haven't already. 4/5

The Rule Reporter

Outbreak finally follows up to their “You Make Us Sick” Bridge 9 debut. I have been anticipating this album for so long. So you bet I was excited to get it.

“Failure” is an amazing follow up to “You Make Us Sick”. It is still fast and chaotic. The only difference is that not all of the songs sound the same like they did in “You Make Us Sick”.

One thing I wanted to note is that this band has evolved musically since their last release. I think its great and I always hope to see bands do that and still be good. A lot of bands that do that end up sucking. Outbreak is still on the top in my eyes and my ears. I can’t see why they would lose fans by this release. There should be more fast/chaotic hardcore bands.

If you get a chance, pick this up for real.

TheHXC.com

Outbreak return with "Failure" and it doesn't get any dirtier than this as Outbreak continue their anger with a release that lets you know that the older forms of hardcore and punk are still pushing their way into the new day.

"Failure" like the other Outbreak albums you fancy, gives circle pitters another reason to go around the loop one more time. Outbreak really sticks to its "roots", those roots being quite obvious, and the album does its best to fulfill those days of yore in the now. Outbreak have never been one to compromise their integrity for what is called new hardcore these days, instead they offer a slightly more abrasive sound to their radical ways.

There's not much more you can ask for from a band like Outbreak as the band has never failed to put out something intense in the most enjoyable way with as many gang vocals as you can sing along to. "Failure" will heighten your enjoyment of this band as they tend to be one of the better punk hardcore acts to push a better sound these days. They came from what every other HC band did only they, like few others, know how to carry the torch along.

Feast of Hate and Fear

Furious hardcore, hooky punk rhythms, anger-to-insanity vocals and some kick-ass metal guitar solos. This Maine mob of five's newest release (first being the self-released Eaten Alive EP and later the Bridge Nine backed, You Make Me Sick EP) has similar sounds to the New England school of 80s hardcore - try Poison Idea and Gang Green, but punkier at times. All delivered in sixteen tracks, rounding out to twenty minutes of snotty, 300 beat-per-minute drums, hyper-riff guitars and gnarly vocals. Love the layout, with it's high use of red, and Japanese tattoo art. The photos inside, as well as the music blasting from my speakers tell me that these kids know how to jump around and get a crowd going. Let's go, and get it goin' down here.

DeadTide.com

Call it punk, hardcore or anything else you want to, but this is the kind of fast and pissed off music that's ideally suited for live shows. 16 songs in less that twenty minutes that go right for the jugular in a hit-and-run style almost lost to most bands today, who seem to try and dress things up to the point of losing all momentum and honesty. There is a good variation in pace, with some great breakdowns but, thankfully, no over-done chugging neo-core garbage. "Lost for Words" brings DRI to mind in its nostalgic structure, while "Square One" closes things off with the catchiness of an instant classic. Old school sensibilities dominate here.

TrueSideMusic.de

What the fuck? Damn, being stoked by a record featuring 16 tracks in 20 minutes is not usual for me at all. I was expecting something cool when I was first listening to two of the new tracks on a Bridge Nine promo CD but not such a record. Fast, fuckin fast, pissed, loud, dirty, bad and damn true Hardcore/ Punk like I love. It made me really smile. No posi trendy stuff, Hardcore like Black Flag, the Bad Brains, the Circle Jerks, Raw Deal, or even SS Decontrol once did it. Sixteen times a hit straight into your face. With personal pissed lyrics sung by a crazy, insane and angry voice that show’s “this is no image, this is realty”. “Failure” was recorded by Jim Siegel and also features a great artwork. Not bad at all from a band which average age is around the twenties and which has been running for four years now. Hopefully they don’t break up now like many others do after their fist full- length and first European tour. 9/10

CoraZine.com

I'm not going to lie to you... I don't spend hours on the internet listening to music anymore. I don't download album after album in search of new or different music these days. Every now and then I hear a band that a lot of people have been talking about and I wish I had listened to all those people a lot sooner. Outbreak falls into that category.

The music is fast and fun. This is kind of like the first time I heard Minor Threat, seriously. The difference is that when I first heard Minor Threat, I was just discovering punk rock. Years later I get the same sense of anger and importance in how the music is played and what is being said from Outbreak. They don't subscribe to the standard hardcore formula by playing fast then playing a breakdown in every song and they don't ever let up or slow down - This is good hardcore punk rock.

The more I listen to this the more I want to stop writing this review and just read all the lyrics. I'm not kidding. It's 7:14 in the morning and I'm pumped for the day. I have to wait until noon to practice with my band and I want to go right now. This is so good.

AMP Magazine

Wow, this is a rager. It's an outbreak (arrgh!) of blazing fast hardcore punk with breakdowns that, thankfully, don't break out the chug. That's right, PUNK. The production is clean and gives it a modern ambiance, yet Outbreak do a good job of combining early 80s and late 80s hardcore influences. I'd still rather hear a rougher/raw production for hardcore, but the band's power comes blasting through. The best band from Maine since, uh, the Pinkerton Thugs?

ThePlaylist.net

I spend a lot of the 20 minute duration of Failure trying to figure out why I never listened to these guys before. This album is chock full of speedy, angry hardcore with crazy screamed vocals that remind me of the screaming in Choking Victim. No song hits the two minute mark, which really keeps things moving, as they don't get caried away in their own song writing, even though the do find time to toss in a solo every now and then. The gang vocals are great, and I absolutely love their fast as a race horse tempos. With their songs being so fast and short, they tend to blend in with each other, making tracks harder to stand out, but this album is awesome as a whole.

PunkRockTheory.com

Maine is probably best known as the US state where most of Stephen King’s novels take place. I doubt that attracts a lot of tourists but those that do venture into Maine will quickly turn around once they hear Oubtreak’s pissed off hardcore. These Maine natives churn out 16 snotty songs on their debut full-length that are done just as fast as a guy with premature ejaculation issues. Raspy screams, a more than proficient rhythm section and some awesome breakdowns are sometimes all you need to make a great album. And “Failure” is that album. Wanna give everyone you meet the finger? Let Outbreak’s “Failure” serve as the soundtrack. 8/10