The Warehouse, Jan 15, 7.30pm Hardcore music has undergone an interesting metamorphosis since it emerged as an offshoot of the US punk movement in the early 1980s. The political and social leanings of originators such as Minor Threat and Black Flag remain an integral part of the genre, but over the years it has adopted a range of influences from heavy metal, which has led to a more brutal and, well, hardcore sound. Notable exponents of modern hardcore include Sick Of It All, Comeback Kid, Biohazard and now First Blood, a five-piece act from San Francisco that rose to prominence in 2006 with the release of debut album Killafornia and a tour in support of Sick Of It All. First Blood - made up of singer Carl Schwartz, guitarists Kyle Dixon and Manuel Perez, bassist Anthony Pizzarelli and drummer Rhett Hornberger - are now on the road to promote their latest album, Silence is Betrayal, and will be bringing the noise to the Warehouse in Aberdeen on January 15. The band formed in 2002 out of the ashes of Bay Area band Sworn Vengeance and became popular on the local live circuit by unleashing a crushing blend of lightning-fast hardcore beats with metallic guitar riffs and Schwartz's growling vocals. It's a formula that has been retained on Silence is Betrayal, and Schwartz said on the band's website that when penning lyrics for the record, he only had to look at the state of the world in the past few years to gain inspiration. 'Thankfully there hasn't been a shortage of stuff in the world to be pissed-off about, so this album is quite possibly the most critical, condemning and controversial material we will ever release. Yes, it's every bit as heavy and crushing as the first, and then some. But the focus of this album resides in the message. 'I find this world becoming increasingly hostile while the powers that be continue to undertake massive efforts to induce us all into passivity, conformity, and a false sense of comfort. Well, life is not comfortable and it is our turn to stir the pot.' 116 Aberdeen Rd, Aberdeen, HK$100. Inquiries: www.startfromscratchrecords.com.hk
