Life

Reviews

Life Violence, Peace, and Peace Research cassette reissue

Originally released in 2013, this album punches you in the gut like a pro boxer. With Scandinavian-influenced hardcore riffs à la MOB 47 layered under rumbling bass and thunderous drums reminiscent of the Japanese classics like ACID, LIFE always finds a metallic edge that keeps every track brutal and relentless.There is room for all sorts of vibes and speeds here: the title track opens with a fast-paced banger, while mid-album tracks like “Dead Silent Spring” and “The Way of Human Existence…” deliver epic mid-tempo tunes amid the chaos. There is also a nod to genre forebears in the form of “Conquest,” a DISCLOSE cover. Violence, Peace and Peace Research is a ferocious assault of angry, political, and intense punk. If you crave raw power with an ideological bite, this reissue is essential.

Life Ossification of Coral LP

Tokyo crust veterans LIFE’s latest LP Ossification of Coral combines the influences of ’80s Swedish hardcore, English and Scottish metallic crust, perhaps some influences from their peers over the years; yet still makes it their own. With the implementation of slower, groovier parts Á  la UK crust bands (AXEGRINDER or DEVIATED INSTINCT), the tracks have more variation than in the past, but they still continue to deliver the raging fast SEDITION/SCATHA-like approach for which they were known. Lyrics consist of anti-military sentiments that not only point out the issues that we face, but also manifest anthems in solidarity and support of the victims of oppression in this society. Includes a cover of ’90s Tokyo scene peers ABRAHAM CROSS’s “Same As War” and artwork done by Nozaki of COLLAPSE SOCIETY/STAGNATION. This release is a great representation of how the ’90s generation of the Tokyo crust scene is relevant in the current generation; still absolutely raging as hard as it did even after a few decades of existence. Highly recommended.