SUBVERSIVE RITE - APOCALYPSE ZONE

 

At long last... like ancient vellum scrolls in earthenware vessels exhumed by Bedouin shepherds, this UKHC/metal-punk tome was formulated and recorded in a bygone era (2022), thought to be lost, nearly forgotten, before suddenly re-emerging as if bestowed upon us by a clandestine higher power through parted clouds in a hostile sky.

This record feels like a natural progression for this group, some of whom once played in Gainesville's VERMIN, a more straightforward, stripped-down, stompy DISCHARGE-inspired three-piece. The early SUB RITE recordings take on substantially more thrash metal influence in the realm of mid-80s UK hardcore. Apocalypse Zone feels like an apotheosis: full ENGLISH DOGS worship, with a clean, thrashy aggressive sound that sprawls out with a 2-minute guitar interlude, a 4.5 minute penultimate track, extended ripping guitar solos, a brief haunting synth intro and songs that just have a lot more dynamism and detail. It reminds me of the recent LIFELESS DARK LP albeit with a lot less fat on the bone and less distortion or straight up crust influence. Not exactly my favorite style of hardcore personally but it's really well-done and I'm glad this finally gets to see the light of day.

FFO: ENGLISH DOGS, LIFELESS DARK, VARUKERS

Fav tracks: A New Era, SID

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