I’ve explained before that one of the main reasons why I enjoy writing album reviews is because I get to hear a lot of great new music. A lot of times I get to hear it before the release, and that’s another cool perk. That brings us here to a band called BORN FREE.
This band hails from Melbourne, Australia and their new album just dropped on my birthday, June 7th. Man, I was seriously impressed. I also loved the cover art with the yin and yang symbol in flames and felt the message behind it. They have been around for two years and have two previous releases. They kick off the album with, Blinded, where a short guitar riff leads you to an onslaught of pure hardcore. The singer is reminiscent of Sal from Sworn Enemy, which is always a good trait in a vocalist. A heavy-ass breakdown also compliments it very well. Then it launches right into the next one, Stuck in the Past. Another heavyweight of a song, that further showcases the singer’s vocal skills and I would say there was a plethora of sick guitar riffs as well. Life of Disgrace is another brutal little ditty off this release. This song had a great breakdown with an offbeat time signature and the “Life of Disgrace!” chant was off the meter.
And the heavy hitters just keep on coming. Suffer, maybe my favorite song on the album. But then again, so maybe the next two songs, Death Sentence and Burn. I am serious, folks. Three excellent songs back to back! They take a quick break with the short acoustic track, Via Dolorosa, before launching back full speed into Upon My Head. Another onslaught of musicianship and even demonstrates the vocalist’s singing capability. Wasted, which is also the new single off the album, showcases the band’s range of talent as musicians as well. But, for sure, the heaviest breakdown on the album is contained within the next song, Disease. Pure hardcore right there! They finally close out the album with, Wavelength, another powerful song showcasing their musical talents. My favorite lyrics of the album, “Call me ill, call me crazy. But soon enough you’ll be pushing up daisies!” Overall, I was very pleasantly surprised by the quality of this hardcore record. You will be too, so check it out!
Born Free will celebrate the release at the Gasometer Hotel in Collingwood on Thursday June 13 alongside Bad Juju, Deathbeds and Porcelain. Tickets are available for pre-order at Oztix and on the door. After taking time to write the new material, it’s the bands belief that this is their hardest hitting yet, both sonically and emotionally. Amongst the chaos and fury, the sentiment of this LP will leave listeners wanting more.
The new album was recorded in Winter 2018 at Black Lodge Studios (old three phase studio) in Brunswick, Melbourne with Mike Deslandes (from Melbourne’s blackened Rock ‘N’ Roll outfit High Tension). The new record is the first from the band to feature new member Josh Manitta (Carpathian, Warbrain) – who has brought on a more layered and melodic style to their previous 2015 album Sorrow, and is a natural progression musically from their Upon my Head tape, released in 2017. The band has further utilised vocalist Nathan’s clean singing, while also creating what is their heaviest album to date, yet more structured and more melodic.
