Album Type: Full Length
Year Released: 6th February 2012
Label: Schizophrenic Inc
Track listing
1. Misery 3:00
2. So Sick Of You 2:15
3. The Underdog 2:48
4. A Faded Photograph 3:24
5. Nothing In The End 2:19
6. Drown 2:47
7. Cowboy Suicide (Instrumental) 0:44
8. Death Is Upon Us 2:56
9. Black Heart 3:08
10. San Quentin (Johnny Cash Cover) 1:39
11. Going Nowhere 2:35
12. Hopeless Cases 2:45
13. Death March 2:18
Total running time: 33:00
The New Low are a four piece band hailing from Odense, Denmark and I
would describe their sound as a blend of hardcore, straight up metal, with a
smattering of sludge in there too.
Nicolei from the band described their sound as ‘kinda apocalyptic,
rough and grimy’. The album was
recorded live in Somestudio, Odense, Denmark in 2011 and was mastered by Alan
Douches at West West Side Music, New York USA
The Line-up is as follows:
Lasse - Drums
Anders - Guitar
Christian - Vocals
Nicolei - Bass
Anders - Guitar
Christian - Vocals
Nicolei - Bass
Bio
The New Low were formed in 2007, originally under the name of Foot To
Face (Cheery J). In 2008
they released a spilt with When Midnight Kills on Schizophrenic Inc; the split
was recorded in Aarhus at Smart ‘N’ Hard studios with Jacob Bredahl (The
Kandidate, ex- Hatesphere). In 2009 the
band entered the studio, again with Jacob Bredahl and recorded their first
full-length ‘Fall Empire’. The band then
signs with Danish metal and hardcore label Mighty Music and the label releases
their first solo release. Foot To Face
then change their name to The New Low.
In the summer of 2010 The New Low tours the South of Spain with
Coleoptero and ‘Fall Empire‘ is released in Aug 2010. The band tours Denmark and Europe and in the
spring of 2011, The New Low re-signs with Schizophrenic Inc for the purpose of
releasing their second record ‘Misery’.
Following the recording of ‘Misery’, The New Low plays Copperhill and in
2012, they release ‘Misery’ to wide acclaim.
The New Low plan to record a 7” in the winter of 2012.
Official press release for ‘Misery’.
The newest opus from Danish rock ‘n’ metal will hit the streets on Feb.
6th 2012. The
band has evolved from their years as a hardcore band in a more metallic
direction, and the result is a new bleak album with lots of character and
profound darkness. Misery marks the
band’s return to the Schizophrenic Inc label and the style that drew attention
to the label was something new and interesting in the Scandinavian
hardcore/metal scene. The band combines
the rock ‘n’ roll hardcore sound of J.R. Ewing, the bleak depressive sound of
Gallows and finally the ‘don’t give a fuck’ attitude of metallic rock ‘n’ core
band, Every Time I Die and the vocal parts of Blacklisted. The result speaks for itself, so give it a
listen!
Review
Generally when it comes to reviewing music for this here blog, there is
a strong clue to the genre or sub genre we like to think we specialise in, the
name of the blog i.e. The Sludgelord, is a bit of a giveaway. Whilst we try not to stray too far away from
sludge, stoner, doom music etc etc, occasionally a record comes along, when we
have to say, two words (fill in the blanks accordingly) and bring an album to
your attention, which is not strictly within the parameters of our little
niche. Restrictions are crap
anyway. Metal isn’t about that, it’s
about moving people and getting you banging you head. I think its music, in its purest form.
Too be honest, being too restrictive, is just
crazy. I have adopted the view that, if
an album is killer, we have a moral obligation to bring it to your attention.
In the long run, we hope you’ll thank us for it! So, in the case of The New Low’s second
record ‘Misery’, I just thought it was too good an album for you to miss
out on and I hope you’ll agree.
Imagine yourself in the
middle of circle pit and you’ll get the gist of what this record has to
offer. It’s a banger! Fists flying,
heads flailing, people going bat shit crazy, well you get the picture. However on the flip side, it’ll make you want
to groove too! Misery
encapsulates all the aggression of metallic hardcore with the speed of thrash
metal and the groove of sludge, making Misery a flag bearer for the new
breed of underground hardcore bands emerging on the scene. This record bring the hurt and oozes with
distress, leaving you stupefied by its brutality. The fact the record was recorded live only
serves to add to the intensity of the record, giving it a raw, powerful and
unhinged feel to it. Coupled with such
assured and tight musicianship, Misery has star quality stamped all over
it.
The undoubted highlights
on the record are ‘Misery’, coming at
you with break neck speed, rendering you incapacitated with its venomous and
intricate opening explosion of hammer on riffing and then we’re off with a
galloped alternate picking and that sludgey groove I was talking about
earlier. Latterly on the track it sounds
reminiscent to Killswitch Engage, the track does in fact bring the misery, because
is just so intense, it hurts.
‘So Sick Of You’ is another banging tune, feeling like a nasty blow to the head, the band exudes energy and vitality. It’s like the band is intent on spitting out furious anger. To resoundingly pound and beat us, with their fluid and precise body blows of audibility. ‘The Underdog’ is yet another example of the power they display on this record and it’s full of variety too. The band are playing for their lives, seemingly overcoming adversity, showing tenacity and fighting their corner from underdog to top dog. ‘A Faded Photograph’ opens with a mellower side to the band, with Christian using clean vocals for the first time and with a super tight rhythm section, particularly with the drums of Lasse. This track is the first noticeable change in tonality on the record and it works perfectly, the barked and clean vocals set the band apart from their peers and add much needed depth to the band’s sound.
‘So Sick Of You’ is another banging tune, feeling like a nasty blow to the head, the band exudes energy and vitality. It’s like the band is intent on spitting out furious anger. To resoundingly pound and beat us, with their fluid and precise body blows of audibility. ‘The Underdog’ is yet another example of the power they display on this record and it’s full of variety too. The band are playing for their lives, seemingly overcoming adversity, showing tenacity and fighting their corner from underdog to top dog. ‘A Faded Photograph’ opens with a mellower side to the band, with Christian using clean vocals for the first time and with a super tight rhythm section, particularly with the drums of Lasse. This track is the first noticeable change in tonality on the record and it works perfectly, the barked and clean vocals set the band apart from their peers and add much needed depth to the band’s sound.
The New Low are not just
reliant on their power, but can also diversify their sound, it is layered with
variety, which is rare quality and their album is all the better for it. Clearly the band is super confident in what
they’re trying to do and that is to be commended, I think the record is great
and I think you will too. It is worth
pointing out; I have only highlighted four tracks, which just so happen to the opening
tracks of the record. I can only say to
you that the record just goes from strength to strength. It is an exceptional release and only gets
better the more time you listen to it.
Now get yourselves in that circle pit.
\m/
Big thank you to Nicolei for sharing the record with us. Please check the link belows for info on the band and where you can buy this gem of a record. Thanks for reading.
Myspace
SchizophrenicInc
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