Review: This Is Hell – “Misfortunes”

Straddling the line between hardcore, punk, and metal, Long Island outfit This Is Hell continues to impress on Misfortunes, their 2nd full-length album. And “Misfortunes” is a good name for the album, really. Similar to their debut full-length Sundowning, “Misfortunes” has similar production values akin to Your Demise’s Ignorance Never Dies. I say that because the bass is clearly audible and the instruments and vocals all maintain the essential “crunch” that I love to hear in hardcore-oriented music.

Now, this music is nothing groundbreaking. From the moment opener “Reckless” shreds through your speakers, you know Misfortunes is going to be a straight-ahead, no-frills hardcore-punk record. And it’s filled with the same gang shouts and occasional sing-along chorus that makes bands like Comeback Kid and Your Demise so popular.

The only real problem with Misfortunes is, as a hardcore-punk record, it never really strays from the norm. However, there is a definite album highlight in song #8, Resuscitate. While it’s not much different from most songs on the album, “Resuscitate” has a brief pause right in the middle of the song before the crunchy riffs come in again, along with some really powerful lyrics for a hardcore band.

“Listen, reach out, this is just another plea for aid
Just know that this time all I am hangs in the balance
Resuscitate this life because I’ve got so much more to say”

They don’t do much that’s new, but lyrics are a huge plus – being a hardcore band, the lyrics should add something credible to the music, which definitely happens throughout the album.

This Is Hell is a solid band doing big things in the hardcore scene. Reinventing the wheel they’re not, but “Misfortunes” can stand up to just about any like-minded band out there (read: Comeback Kid, Your Demise) and this is a great listen for fans of the genre. Also, they’re great live.

Standout Tracks: Resuscitate, End Of An Era, In Shambles

TNF rating: 3.75/5.