Seized Up – Brace Yourself LP (Pirates Press Records)

Brace Yourself is a highly anticipated debut album by Seized Up, a brand new hardcore punk band emanating from Santa Cruz, California. The members are no strangers to the worldwide underground community, and their previous endeavors are highly appreciated among the fans of profoundly energetic hardcore punk music. Seized Up is comprised of the members who shaped their career by performing in renowned groups such as BL’AST!, Good Riddance, The Distillers, and Fast Asleep. With that being said, there’s no wonder why Seized Up appears as a singular mechanism more than ready to crush everything in the broader radius.

The group has announced the album with Manic Decompression, a debut single that questions the possible outcome of the current events in the States and offers grimy imagery of the nearly Orwellian post-apocalyptic future where every citizen faces a lifetime in slavery. The remaining portion of the material criticizes the current political climate in the States, racial and economic segregation, police brutality, lack of empathy, but also covers themes such as class warfare and gentrification. Seized Up points out the urgency of civil disobedience in these uncertain times, where human rights don’t mean a thing, but also calls out the masses to stand up for their rights. Brace Yourself represents a raging manifesto of those oppressed by the rotten system, who are willing to fight for their freedom till the last breath.

The music is equally threatening as the lyrics. Seized up nurtures specific sonic articulations, so characteristic for the eighties hardcore scene. The guitars are bursting with the raging atmosphere through intense four-chord progressions. These structures are offering loads of listening pleasures through detailed technicalities, odd breaks, and mindblowing dynamics that will keep you entertained for a very long period. The bass guitar appears as a giant wall of low-end tones that crushes everything apart. These basslines are entirely supporting guitar shreds but also serving as a binding element between compelling riffages and energetic drumming performance. The drumming performance offers a full specter of diverse rhythmical sequences, empowered by constant splashing over the cymbals and maniacal drumming fills. The vocals are layering all these instrumentations with a sincere and confident performance that provides even more rage over already ferocious music.

Brace Yourself is an outstanding debut by the musicians who are delivering exceptional hardcore music for decades. You may hear resemblance with some eminent bands such as Black Flag, BL’AST!, 7 Seconds, OFF! or Western Addiction, but Seized Up offers even more mindblowing moments throughout the entire album. The album comes with an eye-peeling illustration that vividly follows the thematics of the complete release. Brace Yourself comes on in a couple of variants, such as piss-yellow cloudy/red, white, & black splatter, electric blue/mustard pinwheel vinyl, and standard black vinyl. Head over to Pirates Press Records and treat yourself with some premium hardcore punk music.