Dutch hardcore unit Born Infected returns with their new mini-album, Year of the Rat, delivering a concentrated blast of modern hardcore that perches the line between old-school and new-school sound. Eight tracks of ruthless energy, crafted with intent and confidence, make this one of the most vital releases on the modern European hardcore scene, a record proving that the genre still flourishes when it is unafraid to challenge itself and its audience. Born Infected have long been committed to hardcore as an art form and a platform for engagement, and Year of the Rat embodies this philosophy with every note and beat. There is no room for empty aggression here, everything is intentionally constructed to communicate emotion, ideology, and urgency. Their music immediately declares that hardcore is about the connection between bands and listeners. The sound is intense, confrontational, and rapid, but beneath the ferocity lies a thoughtful, deliberate understanding of the hardcore’s history and power.
Sonically, Born Infected operates at the intersection of tradition and evolution. The EP is rooted in the aggression and directness of old-school hardcore, short, explosive bursts of riff-driven energy, vocals that demand attention, and rhythms that hit with the precision of a trained fist, yet there is also a sophistication in arrangement, tempo, and dynamics that reflects the evolution of European hardcore over the past two decades. The band blends the binding simplicity of classic NYHC with contemporary technicality, producing a sound that is cohesive, impactful, and effective. There is a tension throughout Year of the Rat that keeps the listener constantly engaged. Born Infected are a band that refuses neutrality, their music carries a message, consciousness, and a drive to provoke thought and action. Hardcore has always been political, whether explicitly or implicitly, and this release carries forward that tradition. Social commentary, personal responsibility, and human connection underpin the aggression, making each track more than mere noise or adrenaline, it is a statement of intent demanding to be heard loud and clear. The EP embodies a union of skill, emotion, and meaning that communicates far beyond the room in which it was recorded.
The production, polished yet bitings, serves the music perfectly. The instruments are clear and present, each element occupying its space in the mix while retaining the raw, live-edge intensity that defines hardcore. The listener can feel the physicality of the performance without losing the cohesion of the record. It’s an EP that captures technical mastery and human closeness, making it as vital in a listener’s headphones as it would in a live venue. Year of the Rat also respects the communal roots of hardcore. There is an audience and scene embedded in the music, pointing out that hardcore is never purely a solo experience. The energy is participatory, and Born Infected’s EP reasserts the power of collective experience, of music as a vessel for expression and engagement. Importantly, this is not nostalgia masquerading as relevance. While Born Infected acknowledge the greats of the past, they never allow those influences to define them. It channels tradition not as imitation but as foundation, allowing the band to articulate its own voice in a scene that is too often defined by repetition. Their musicianship is clear, intensity determined, and their message quick and steady.
Year of the Rat exemplifies what modern hardcore can achieve when executed with intelligence, conviction, and passion. Born Infected are a band that embodies the best of the genre, politically aware, technically skilled, and emotionally direct. The EP hits hard, resonates long after the final notes and beats end, and asserts the continuing vitality of hardcore music in the Netherlands and beyond. It is the sound of a band in full control of its craft, bold in its delivery, and uncompromising in its purpose. Year of the Rat is a rock-solid statement, a call to awareness, and a vital medium for expression, rebellion, and communal energy. Born Infected have delivered a thrilling, meaningful, and unrelenting work, a true benchmark of contemporary hardcore that demands respect and repeated listening. Head to Engineer Records for more information about ordering this hardcore gem on CD.
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