Condemned? United States

"It is true that metalcore and deathcore combine heavy metal and hardcore punk, and it is no secret that a lot of metalheads dislike these two genres. However, metalcore and deathcore were not the first genres that combine punk and metal. Before them was crossover thrash, which combined hardcore punk and thrash metal. Crossover thrash was less polished and more in your face than modern metalcore and deathcore, and this may well be the reason why crossover was more positively received by metalheads back then than metalcore and deathcore are today (despite the fact that the punk influences were much more prevalent in crossover thrash).

Crossover thrash gave birth to legends like S.O.D., M.O.D., Carnivore, D.R.I., Suicidal Tendencies, and Nuclear Assault, and to this list we can add long time underground legends Condemned?, whose "Condemned 2 Death" is a tour de force in old school crossover thrash.

I find this old school crossover refreshening in a world where the entire true-false metal debate is focused on whether or not metalcore or deathcore is even metal at all; it's no secret that I find this whole debate to be a load of bullshit, but I guess I'm to old to worry about petty stuff like that - I just want to enjoy the music. Anyway, the songs on "Condemned 2 Death" are simple, raw and energetic, and it successfully expresses both the anger of punk music and the aggression of thrash metal with its focus on well wrought riffage.

If crossover thrash were to be seen as a continuum ranging from focus on punkt to focus on thrash metal, "Condemned 2 Death" would probably fall in the more punky end of the scale with the use of simple chord based hardcore style riffage and punky polka beat drums, but there are plently of thrashy and metallic elements such as semi-technical riffage, double bass drum, and changes on tempo.

The production is raw but far from amateurish, and the sound fits that punky and raw music very well.

Recommended to fans of old school thrash, old school hardcore punk, and - of course - crossover thrash. Personally, I really like this in-yer-face album!

(review originally posted on metalmusicarchives.com)"