Speak For The Dead – Speak For The Dead

Today, we have another excellent band on our pages. Speak For The Dead has recently released their debut full-lenght album that you should immediately check out if you’re looking for aggressive, energetic, and powerful music. Formed by the members of Resillience, Hatchet, and Axiom Collapse, this Californian band channels everything you ever needed from underground sound. With influences ranging from Tragedy and Discharge to Motorhead, Zeke, and Inepsy, Speak For The Dead embraces only the finest properties of hardcore punk, crust punk, d-beat, and rock ‘n’ roll, but do not be surprised if you stumble upon some other genres along the way, because these experienced musicians crafted an impactful hardcore punk album packed with many surprises. They use all these additional elements as more than necessary enhancements, accentuations, decorations, and other details to elevate these songs to new heights while simultaneously remaining loyal to the primary sonic direction. This mix of hardcore punk, or should I say motorchage sound, suits them well, as the band sounds tight from start to finish. Lyrically, Speak For The Dead explores socio-political themes by delving deep into the topics while simultaneously channeling various sentiments and moods. Considering we’re living in an era where global conflicts, wars, police oppression, and other injustices have become a norm, this album is more than a necessary document and critique of modern society. On the other hand, the band also shares their thoughts about living life to the edge, being in a band, touring, etc. It’s an essential listen for every punkrocker and metalhead.

As soon as you press play, you’ll notice that Speak For The Dead poured heart and soul into this material. Each vocal, sonic, and rhythmic maneuver has its place and purpose, making this material so impactful. This epic journey commences with “Whatever It Takes…,” an overture packed with field recordings of sirens, various samples, and adequate instrumentations. It prepares the listener for “The World We Know,” a magnificent punk ‘n’ roll composition that showcases all their musical abilities. Fierce vocals, catchy riffs, intricate basslines, and energetic drumming decorate each segment, making it a standout composition that vividly demonstrates what you might expect from the remainder of the album. Tracks like “Fighting In The Pit,” “Rearview Riot,” and “Headwound” bring back a flavour of late eighties and nineties hardcore punk music, decorated with more or less noticeable elements of American streetpunk music. The vocals serve as a centerpiece here, commanding attention and elevating all those instruments in line. The guitar riffs are carefully and thoughtfully composed to satisfy even the pickiest ears, the basslines ollow those guitar works while bringing more warmth, depth, and clarity, while the fast paced beats, breaks, and other percussive acrobatics keep everything in line while dictating groove and pace. The variety of genres explored throughout the album is hearable in the following songs. “Take Back The Streets” brings Motorhead, Zeke, and Peter Pan Speed Rock sound, while infusing many signature moves of the band. “Lights Out” goes even deeper into raw, unfiltered, abrasive rock ‘n’ roll aesthetics by delivering progressive riffs and more well-accentuated rhythmic patterns. You’ll notice how the band included double-bass lines into each segment, making this track even more detailed. The vocals sound as fierce as possible, bringing all the aggression, rawness, and power to another level. “Dread” dives into d-beat aesthetics, decorated with crusty hardcore punk speed and heavily distorted guitars. It’s one of those tracks that immediately transports you back to the years when d-beat and crust ruled the underground scene. If you thought this band couldn’t get any faster, they surprise you with another crust punk anthem, “Eternal Night.” Empowered with a crossover thrash speed, heavy basslines, another barrage of excellent riffs, and vocals that force you to scream along, it’s one of those standouts that will immediately find a special place on your playlist. This epic sonic journey comes to an end with a title track, a perfect piece that will convince you to spin this marvelous album all over again. In times when many bands finish their full-lenghts with some slow, anthemic songs, Speak For The Dead decided to deliver another fast-packed hardcore banger. It’s a perfect closing track that vividly showcases all the experience, knowledge, musicanship, and ideas of the band.

It has been a long time since anyone delivered an album so perfect as this one. By incorporating only the finest properties of the eighties, nineties, noughties, and contemporary hardcore punk, crust, d-beat, and rock ‘n’ roll, Speak For The Dead have crafted a masterpiece packed with ten incredible bangers worth spinning over again. Their music packs all the aggression, heaviness, power, rawness, and dynamics you ever needed from a hardcore punk band, proving that the scene is still alive and kicking. If you love your hardcore punk music loud, fast, powerful, and uncompromising, the debut full-length album by Speak For The Dead will be right up your alley. Head to your favorite streaming platform and listen to it loud!