Album review: Ringworm – Seeing Through Fire

By DAN SOUTHALL

RINGWORM is a band that seems to have been around for an eternity. Still one of those for fans very much ‘in the know’, if you haven’t tuned into them before all you need to know is that Ringworm was there when what was now know as metalcore began.

Not the stuff with all the melody and easy-to-see-coming vocal patterns. Oh no, this is proper metallic hardcore. All you need to know is written on the tin. Ringworm is a band that has always melded thrashy crossover elements with genuine hardcore rage and breakdowns wedged in to give the circle pit and pit ninjas a quick breather.

The band rips straight in with the title track starting with a groovy bounce to lure listeners in before steadfast battering begins in order. The hard as nails “Carved in Stone” follows, with Human Furnace’s voice pushed to breaking point as he thrashes his point across.

I was personally drawn to hardcore early on in my musical journey for the camaraderie and ability to be positive when all hope looks to be shattered. Ringworm’s roots see them delve into this philsophy often, with the standouts on this album being “No Solace, No Quarter, No Mercy” as it beats the listener into a positive mindset that is all in the track title – dig in and don’t give up. “Unavoidable Truth” is similar as it pulls the listener away from their social media device and into the outside world.

Not a band known for taking their foot off the loud pedal, why would they change that dynamic this late in the game? “Playing God” is the only respite from the intensity. Like an eighties thrash classic, it opens with acoustic and electric guitars swirling slowly towards a chaos you can feel coming as the tension builds for the last time.

If you know Ringworm you know what you came here for, if you haven’t, you only need to ask yourself one question. Are you ready for their newest belter?