Terror “Keepers of the Faith”

Review by Nick Shore | Smutlife

Go ahead, take your best shot. Criticize their riffs, lyrics, vocals, or repetitive calls for stage dives. Forget about them just like you did the last flavor of the week and download the newest pop punk-core record. Say what you will, but Los Angeles’ Terror prove year in and year out why they are still one of the longer lasting, hard as nails, truly legitimate, in-your-face hardcore bands.

Since 2002, Terror has been right at the forefront of contemporary aggressive hardcore, whether it was DIY local shows in Southern California, or international tours supporting a major album release on Century Media Records. While scanning their impressive resume, one constant always remained true despite their popularity or album sales, as this five piece devastator has never lost sight of the real scene and the people who’ve supported them for their eight year career.

Keepers of the Faith is a 15 track marathon (including the two bonus songs), winding in and out of Terror’s musical capabilities and influences for nearly 40 minutes. All the necessary ingredients are there; bone crushing breakdowns, abrasive vocals, singalongs, and anthem-like choruses. Instead of slowly decomposing and degenerating like so many bands that have come and gone during Terror’s existence, they maintain the same steely, razor sharp edge which made records like Lowest of the Low and One with the Underdogs so popular.

While there’s plenty of straight forward earth shaking riffs, Terror continues to splash the musical canvas with blistering guitar solos during songs such as “The Struggle” and “Defiant.” Keepers of the Faith also contains a few uncharacteristically melodic moments in “You’re Caught” and “Shattered,” which surprisingly fit in pretty well with the LP, despite what some online message board warriors might have you believe.

For the tough guy hardcore superfans who might be starting to sweat this album’s ferocity, tracks like “Dead Wrong,” “Hell and Back,” and “Stick Tight” should deliver the spin kick to the face you’ve been waiting for in 2010. Moments of nostril hair singing speed are back again in full force, as they crank up the RPMs in “Your Enemies are Mine” and “Stay Free.”

Across the hardcore spectrum and back again, Terror touches all the bases, dots their I’s, and crosses their T’s while producing another mammoth LP. Keepers of the Faith has a little bit of something for everyone, and instead of becoming another monotonous exercise in the same three breakdown riffs, chooses to incorporate assorted metal and rock influences to keep everyone’s ears fresh. Colored vinyl is available from Reaper Records, and CD’s are in stores now.