By This Is Hell

Released June 29, 2010

Tracklist

1. No One Leaves Unscathed
2. The Night The Line Was Crossed
3. Out Come The Bastards
4. Bloodlines
5. Eagle Of Justice
6. Death Of World Class
7. The Search
8. Forever Discontent
9. Shadows
10. Destroyer
11. Worship Syndrome
12. Fall And Rise
13. Snake Eyes

AbsolutePunk.net

Hardcore is a genre that can be very stagnant at times, so it’s tough to become relevant. One way to keep your band in constant rotation is to bring something new while refining your sound, and that’s exactly what This Is Hell accomplishes on their third album, Weight of the World. In fact, the body count has never been higher as This Is Hell absolutely destroys it. The band wages war early with opening track, “No One Leaves Unscathed.” Blistering guitar riffs from Rick Jimenez set the tone for Travis Reilly’s vicious barking. Just like the previous two albums, Reilly is still an absolute beast on the mic. His intensity never falters during the sinister “The Night The Line Was Crossed,” which features a killer breakdown (it could make spin-kicking cool again). Littered throughout the album are scorching tracks that each fall under two minutes long. Songs like “Out Come The Bastards” and “The Destroyer” are heavy and quick to the punch. Jimenez’s guitar chords crunch along with Ben Mead’s steady drum work on “Bloodlines,” while This Is Hell bust out some thrash on “Worship Syndrome.” Throughout Weight of the World, This Is Hell try to keep things from getting stale by switching up different paces and putting in new elements. They incorporate some thrash (“Worship Syndrome”) while also introducing some somber tones, as heard in the instrumental “Eagle of Justice” (which leads into the frantic “Death of World Class”). But the Long Island quartet is at their best when they are throwing out catchy riffs, clean breakdowns, and infectious shout-along vocals. “Shadows” is guilty of this, as the closing sing-shout breakdown will be a fan favorite similar to 2005’s “Permanence.” However, the knockout punch of the album is delivered from closing track, “Snake Eyes,” which may be the best song in TIH’s discography. The nearly five minute track is a blast of aggression as Reilly and Zach Jordan (Bane and Silent Drive fame) trade vocal barbs back and forth, while musically the band has never played better. While Weight of the World features of lot of the tired and true elements of hardcore, they keep listeners from being bored by adding in some thrash (think American Nightmare meets Anthrax). Not only is This Is Hell stuck with the weight of the world on their shoulders, they now have to deal with the weight that comes along with being one of the best hardcore acts today.

PunkNews.org

Of all the musical genres prone to stagnation, the classic fusion of hardcore and metal is perhaps the most widespread. No matter how heavy the breakdowns, how fast the drums or how passionate the live show, so few such bands seem to really stick in one's mind, let alone produce a 12” record worth listening to all the way through. Thank goodness that, despite a wait and what I felt was an overly dense second record, 2008’s Misfortunes, This Is Hell have produced perhaps the best heavy album of the year in Weight of the World. What makes this so enjoyable, as I may have hinted, is its diversity and variety throughout--no elements have a chance to get boring, be they the sombre strings of "Eagle of Justice," the shout-along breakdown at the end of "Shadows" or the beat-driven thrash in "Death of World Class." Also of note are the band’s newfound love for guitar solos, which fortunately never outstay their welcome. This is a trait apparently here to stay, as it was prevalent on last year’s Warbirds EP (from which Weight of the World lifts both "The Search" and "Worship Syndrome"). These guys have been touring like crazy since they formed, and aside from record label troubles, have clearly put everything they have, creatively and emotionally, into this record. However, where some bands overstretch themselves in trying to do too much, This Is Hell hold their collection of songs together with Travis Reilly’s trademark desperate yell, and the rest of the band’s tight and heavy-but-not-too-heavy sound. Lineup changes since Misfortunes have resulted in the group becoming a four-piece, freeing up founding guitarist Rick Jimenez and creating an altogether leaner, more aggressive approach. While akin to their self-titled EP and Sundowning album, Weight of the World fuses this frantic American Nightmare-esque approach with more metal influences like Anthrax, Warzone and the mighty Cro-Mags. Hopefully, this third effort is the one to finally push This Is Hell to the top of the hardcore heap--where they belong.

RockFreaks.net

Long Island hardcore unit This Is Hell have been consistently tearing people's eardrums for six years now. They are renowned for an intensity unmatched by the rest of the hardcore scene (especially since American Nightmare are no more), because every track ever recorded by these guys makes you feel like a freight train just paid your eardrums a brief but effective visit. It's their frighteningly fiery, take-no-prisoners approach to writing brutally aggressive hardcore / hardcore punk that makes so many people like them, for it can't be because of their songwriting, considering how they have so few stand out tracks and so many that feel like you've been gang raped by a bunch of trucks that have shredders for wheels. Ouch. Yet they stand as an example for many, for example the Fredericia hardcore scene, because This Is Hell have made playing monotone hardcore into an art form. This is how you can play it, have circle pits, and still sound good while you're at it, kids. Try hardcore dancing to this, motherfuckers. You can't; this is real hardcore. If you've been following This Is Hell since the beginning of their career, no need to fret, this record offers more of the same, except in a slightly improved form. In fact, it'd be correct to call it their most accomplished album to date, even if it's just small improvements from 2008's "Misfortunes". But then again, this band is also renowned for their babysteps-like approach to improving as a band. Why change a bone-crushing formula that has your fanbase growing slowly, but surely? The nominal changes you'll notice are a couple of metallic solos that have been written in to attract people outside of hardcore to the band as well. Case in point, a thrash metal solo in "Eagle Of Justice" and a screeching one in "The Search", despite the latter being a breakneck speed hardcore punk track. Just as expected, breakneck speed is the theme of the record; if there ever was an album worthy of that description, then "Weight Of The World" would be it. The same formula can be applied to the words "intense", "in your face", "aggressive" and so on and so on. The point is, This Is Hell keeps pounding at you until you're down, and if you dare to even lift a finger afterward, they return with twice the force. Vocalist Travis Reilly's coarse yell alone makes that clear. The guitars are tight, the intensity level is sky high throughout, and the guitarists are able to write solid, memorable riffs when need be. So why isn't "Weight Of The World" better album than it is? The answer lies within melody, or rather, the lack thereof. Last album "Misfortunes" had its "Discipline" and "End Of An Era" that leaned into melodic hardcore in the vein of Capital, debut album "Sundowning" had "The Polygraph Cheaters", "Permanence" and "Here Come The Rains" that injected just a little bit of melody into their otherwise unmelodic aggro-hardcore. "Weight Of The World" has only "Snake Eyes", and that's track 13 out of 13 on the disc. The riffs alone lift the record above so many contemporaries, but I for one am left longing for just a liiiiiittle bit melody into the band's expression, and then they'd be truly, truly awesome. As it stands now, they're just good, but definitely the best monotone hardcore band around.

BringTheNoiseUK.com

So This Is Hell are finding their feet more and more in the UK, with the surge in popularity for Hardcore, especially with the help of bands such as Cancer Bats and Comeback Kid. With their third Album ‘Weight of the World‘ This Is Hell have aimed high, this is evident from opener ‘Bloodlines‘. Instantly kicking in with a chugging bass line which is soon joined by some sweet riffs and the trademark scowl of Travis Reilly. Lyrically ‘Bloodlines‘ is the usually angst ridden song but musically it has a nice optimistic bounce to it and makes it perfect for pit action when they smash it live. Our surprise comes with the Metallica-esque ‘Eagle of Justice‘, the fourth track on the album. It pops out of nowhere and slaps you in the face with its slow tempo. This shows the sheer skill and musicianship that This Is Hell have to offer, and their capability of transcending styles seamlessly. Sadly as quick as it arrives ‘Eagle of Justice’ spreads its wings and flies away, all too quickly for us.Taking us back is ‘Fall And Rise‘ which drags us straight back into the pit and aurally assaults us till we are sweaty, beaten and smiling widely. ‘Weight of the World’ is simply monumental, a constant stream of Hardcore at its finest. No pretence, no egos, no showboating. Just a barrage of tunes to get in the pit to, aparts from ‘Eagle of Justice’ which is a nice break between the two parts of the album. This Is Hell have surpassed themselves with this one, EPIC!

LMPMagazine.com

While the formula of their past releases is still well intact, Weight Of The World does expand the sound of THIS IS HELL more than once. This album is track after track of fist-pumping punk, but there’s a new beast showing itself this time around. “No One Leaves Unscathed” will instantly add fuel to the flames, “The Night The Line Was Crossed” is basically a series of great breakdowns, and “Bloodlines” has an even tempo throughout that helps add balance to the speed of this album. “Eagle Of Justice” serves as a unique intermission, “Forever Discontent” comes out as a top track, and “Destroyer” feels like your classic hardcore anthem. You could skip around this album and always land on something worth hearing. Weight Of The World is one hell of release; it deserves your attention.

Subba-Cultcha.com

It’s hard to believe This Is Hell are not more of a big deal by now. They are certainly at the top of their game; consistently release albums at the top of all hardcore recommendation lists, and they have a loyal following who see the band as the voice of their genre. Oh, and guess what, they’ve only gone and done it again! Weight Of The World is another of the band’s albums that has you hooked from the very first beat. Opener ‘Bloodlines’ is a typical in-your-face hardcore track, proving impossible to criticize with its unstoppable beats and perfect punk riffs. The whole album is consistent, each track as angst-ridden as that before, and each track proving why the band have gained such a significant name within the hardcore genre. ‘Weight of the World’ is the stand-out track on the album, and shows the band at their finest – sheer hardcore brilliance. So why aren’t they a big deal? The band, formed in 2004, have created another creative masterpiece with this album, but it’s fair to say it shows little direction. It would be nice to see the band pushing themselves to create a sound impossible to re-create. That said, they still sound bloody amazing.