Battle Ruins - S/T LP
Rock ‘N’ Roll Disgrace
The new self-titled Battle Ruins 12” isn’t out yet nor has a official release date been given, but you know what… FUCK IT. 35 copies of this album were sold at last weeks Damaged City Fest and the digital version of this record already leaked months ago on the interwebs, so without exaggerating I must have heard these seven songs over a hundred times already. I think it’s time for a review!
As said, I have heard these songs a hundred times before, and two of them, “Slaughtering The Wolves Like Sheep” and “Streets Run Red”, maybe twohundred times already since they were also on the 2013 promo cassette that was released in May of that year. I don’t listen to horrible songs that much, so you don’t have to read any further to know I love this record, because these guys created a gem and once this record hits the shelves it will be my favorite 12” of 2014, no doubt about it.
Both the music and lyrics of Battle Ruins attract me. The music, a mixture of Oi!, hardcore and viking rock/metal let the band create a real dark and vicious sound combining these genres. That in combination with lyrics about ancient war and all it’s gruesomeness makes this one hell of an evil, but, and pardon my French, fuckin’ cool record to listen to! Usually guys in shitty metal bands or shady skinhead bands that feel some sort of supremecy over others sing about this. With Battle Ruins carrying the banner on after their 2010 EP it’s time to give these bands the cold steel and let these crusaders, that consists of (ex-)members from bands such as The Rival Mob, The Boston Strangler, Lovely Lads, Prisoner Abuse, Mental, Righteous Jams etc… etc…, slaughter those wolves like sheep!
Besides the two earlier mentioned songs, you also have “Regain And Conquer”, “Hate Wheel”, “Coming Of The Beast”, “Immortal Assault” and “Black Eyes Of Revenge” which all add up to a total of about 20 minutes of music, in my opinion way too short, then again it’s all ‘killer and no filler’ on this 12” and for that I can only compliment these Bostonians. It’s also tough to pick a favorite song, but if I have to it have to, it will be either “Regain And Conquer” or “Hate Wheel” based on their lyrics, because musically it’s all equally the same awesomeness to me. I can not wait to blast this piece of vinyl through my stereo instead of my laptop (although those external speakers are really good) or the mp3 player on my phone, because not only do the music and lyrics set a new standard, the original artwork looks sick as well which makes me want to have this record bad and fast!
Luckily enough the band promised it will be out ‘very very’ soon and I hope their label Rock ‘N’ Roll Disgrace will press enough of them to fulfill the demand on this 12” because I am not the only one waiting on this LP and everyone who either likes or lurks on this page should own this in the, hopefully, near future, period!
