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Run With The Hunted

Run With The Hunted

Written by: PP on 04/05/2011 06:00:38

Few bands come as ferocious as Phoenix, Arizona-based Run With The Hunted on their self-titled debut album. Even the introductory track "Introspective" is possessed by fierce screaming the like of which you only encounter in a couple of contemporary hardcore bands. Cancer Bats comes to mind first given the relentless speed, focus on intelligent lyrics and no-frills hardcore, but shortly after the listener's mind is easily drawn towards Every Time I Die's "New Junk Aesthetic", particularly the take-no-prisoners approach in tracks like "Organ Grinder".

"Magna Cum Laude", the first real track of the album, comes out the gate roaring with a furious punch of in-your-face hardcore the kind of which is designed for sweaty club venues to achieve maximum intensity level. Not that intensity is a problem for Run With The Hunted at any point, as even on the slower, Modern Life Is War influenced tracks like "Make This World Without You" the harsh yelling/screaming of vocalist Drew Wilkinson sounds mighty to say the least. He takes what Cancer Bats have and one ups the ferocity level, all the while the rest of the band focus on jagged riffs and haunting atmospheres. This comes in great contrast to the ear-piercing screams and freight train type of hardcore you'll meet on most tracks, which is important for the sake of variety of the record.

That being said, and without taking anything away from Wilkinson's uber-intense vocal work, he does tend to come across as a little monotonous by the end of the record. Some variety in this department certainly wouldn't help, but then again I have the same problem with all Cancer Bats records, which is usually remedied at every single live show through an explosion of energy all around. I take it is a given Run With The Hunted share this in common with their influences. Incidentally, they are also being compared to bands like Turmoil, Tragedy and, curiously enough, Botch, even though there's next to no mathcore present in their riffs. But it's an interesting observation because instrumentally RWTH are really a different sort of hardcore band from your stereotypical bands in the genre. They spend considerable time experimenting outside of the box, which benefits their sound greatly. While it doesn't make their debut an amazing album, it's a solid piece of hardcore, though one that could use a few minor adjustments before they'll battle in the big leagues with the bands mentioned in this review.

Download: Occam's Tazor, Reversal Of Fortune
For the fans of: Every Time I Die, Cancer Bats, Turmoil
Listen: Myspace

Release date 23.11.2010
Panic Records