It has been a while since a hardcore release landed on our pages that feels this alive, urgent, and rooted in tradition while still carving its own style. Past Mistakes, the latest EP from Cardiff’s Positive Reaction, is a rock-solid statement of intent from a band that has clearly spent years mastering its craft. With just four tracks, it captures the essence of raw, explosive, socially aware, and emotionally immediate hardcore punk music. It is a nod to the past and proof that, deep in the underground, bands continue to push the boundaries of a genre that many assume has long since reached its peak. Positive Reaction operates in a lineage that stretches from Ripcord’s ruthless energy to the Agnostic Front and Negative Approach’s early days. Yet to reduce them to mere influence would be an injustice. Positive Reaction is a band that has absorbed these sounds and transformed them into its signature moves. These rhythmic patterns hit like a train, the guitar work carries aggressive precision that NYHC fans will instantly recognize, and the rawness recalls that garage rock-infused Detroit hardcore style in its prime. However, alongside these historic echoes, there’s a distinct personality honed through years of live performance, recording, and immersion in the hardcore ethos.
Jeff Rose’s production captures that energy to the max. The tracks do not overstay their welcome, yet every moment lands perfectly, with catchy riffs, drum beats, and every vocal line arriving with a tremendous impact. This is hardcore as it was meant to be experienced, fast, direct, and powerful. Like the best bands on the hardcore scene, Positive Reaction are not afraid to tackle social and political themes, confronting issues that continue to challenge humanity daily. The music feels like a mirror held up to the listener, forcing reflection as well as movement. There is a sense that these songs are not only meant to entertain but to communicate, to provoke thought, conversation, and even action. Hardcore has always flourished on this dual purpose, and Positive Reaction continues the tradition with skill and confidence. Leigh Sinclair’s skull artwork is stark and powerful, perfectly reflecting the confrontational energy of this extended play, while VogonLaundromat’s live photography reminds listeners of the collective, sweaty, all-encompassing power of a hardcore show. It bridges the gap between listening and living the music, creating a tangible connection to their world and ethos.
It’s rare to find a contemporary hardcore release that balances reverence for history with an unmistakable, individual voice. Many bands falter either by leaning too heavily on nostalgia or by attempting innovation without foundation. Positive Reaction, however, walk this tightrope with confidence. Their four tracks carry a sense of wholeness. They are cohesive, focused, and confident in their delivery. There’s a discipline but also a recognizable chaos that allows these tracks to breathe freely without losing assertiveness. Anyone who tried to write and compose tracks like these knows it’s not a task easily achieved in a genre that often thrives on short, explosive blasts. Positive Reaction’s news EP exemplifies that underground music is far from stagnant. It continues to nurture bands that can compete with the greats of the genre while bringing their own experiences and voice to the table. Past Mistakes asserts that Positive Reaction is an essential part of the ongoing chronology of hardcore music. It is a four-track EP that hits, reverberates, and lounges, leaving no doubt that the scene is alive, mighty, and capable of producing work of enduring significance. Head to Engineer Records for more information about ordering.
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