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By DAN SOUTHALL
BIOHAZARD are one of the original New York hardcore bands that helped define a musical genre, beginning in the late eighties and throughout the nineties.
A sometimes volatile band, internal conflict never allowed them to reach full potential, like so many others of their era. As an example, this album has taken 13 years to gestate after bassist/co-vocalist Evan Seinfeld left following the recording of their last album, Reborn In Defiance.
This album sees original line up back together, with more focus than they have had for 25 years.
Kicking straight into it, “Fuck The System” wastes little time getting to the point of the argument, a socio-political take on modern America as only Biohazard can make: positive, pissed off and tough. “Forsaken” has a similar stomp, driven by the NYHC a d-beat before they slow up for a melodic bounce that is pure Biohazard at their best, aimed at keeping the pit bobbing along.
From here the band ratchets up the meathead a little, with a couple of a slower and groovier tracks that are easily overlooked. Both “Eyes On Six” and “Death Of Me” just pass by almost unnoticed. Despite this little blip, Biohazard get back on track with more positive lyrics and calls for change, some of these being the heavy “War Inside Me” and nu-metal flavoured “S.I.T.F.O.A.” (Strength in the face of adversity), a genuine call for better days ahead and a reminder that while the world around us may be in a bad way, you can only control what you can control. It is variations on this theme that see the album out.
This album will no doubt see its detractors, and to them I simply say this is exactly what should be expected from Biohazard. No experimentation, no fucking about. Just riffs, two-stepping beats and positive lyrics from some of NYHC’s original tough guys. This is what it was built on: righteous anger at the world and those in power, no matter their persuasion.
Divided We Fall is two-step, change grabbing, spin kicking positive hardcore to remind you how we all got here, what keeps us strong as individuals and as a music scene. Hold on, stick tight and things will get better, but first we have to try and fix the injustices we see in the day to day.
Hardcore circa 1995 called and wants you to know you did well, kid.
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