Expire “Suffer the Cycle” | REVIEW

Review by Nick Shore | Smutlife

Almost one year since their debut EP, Grim Rhythm ripped up turntables from coast to coast, the Midwest’s Expire are back with another effort chock full of gritty riffs and youthful angst. Recently released on the always busy Six Feet Under Records, Suffer the Cycle features four brand new tracks of straight up hardcore fury. Since grabbing hold of their local scene in 2009 with a furiously aggressive demo, Expire have grown considerably, taking their largest steps with this latest musical onslaught.

Their style isn’t necessarily clear cut, as you can’t pin them down as leaning towards New York, Los Angeles, or influences anywhere in between. Blending styles and inking infectious riffs has worked well for the Midwest outfit, who are following up a grueling winter touring schedule with a lengthy string of dates which hits cities such as Chicago, New York, Richmond, and more.

Recorded out in sun baked Los Angeles at Young Bros Studios with Taylor Young of Nails, Suffer the Cycle takes on a much more polished and honed edge, especially compared to the gruffness of Grim Rhythm. Josh Kelting’s vocals are a bit cleaner, slightly higher pitched, and far less abrasive than they were in the past, however the music remains fairly similar to the older material.

Similar to their last record, the EP is short but sweet, coming in at just a hair under six minutes, which once again leaves the listener searching for a bit more once Suffer the Cycle comes to its abrupt conclusion. The B side, containing “First Fall” and “Grip” appears to be the winner of the two, raising their personal bar for sledgehammer heaviness another notch higher. Everything draws to a hot and sweaty close with “Grip,” which explodes with some Mother of Mercy-esque riffage and quickly wraps up with the appropriate lyric, “I burned that bridge, I don’t regret it.”

There’s a few peaks and valleys on this record, but anyone left pining for more by Grim Rhythm will find a few of their hunger pangs quelled by Suffer the Cycle. I was feeling the vocal tone of the last EP more, but I’m still psyched to see what this group will bring to the table when they finally drop a full length, as well as on their current spring tour. The record is currently available on colored vinyl from Six Feet Under Records along with exclusive T-shirt designs.

PEEP IT!!!

EXPIRE – ‘Sleep Lost’