Ringworm’s catalog can be divided into 2 categories: The Promise (1993) and everything else. This isn’t to say everything these Cleveland based veterans released after their debut isn’t worthwhile. In fact, they’ve released more than a few banger albums since 1999 reboot. What I am saying, however, is that in the nearly 25 years since their reunion, the landscape of so-called metalcore has changed radically. When they dropped The Promise, they were making metalcore in a pre-metalcore world. Today, Ringworm exists in a world where metalcore has since become bastardized into something unrecognizable from its early post-crossover roots.
This brings us to the release of the band’s 9th studio album, Seeing Through Fire. For all intents and purposes, this album is a “metalcore for dummies” instruction manual, or at the very least a throwback to the genre’s salad days. Unlike so many within the realm of heavy music, Ringworm found what they were good at and stuck to it, never deviating off course too drastically. In their case, what they were good at (and still are good at for that matter) is taking the Reign in Blood template and adding their own misanthropic hardcore twist, grabbing the listener’s attention with seething riffs and apocalyptic lyricism.
Some may dismiss Ringworm as “one trick ponies” in this regard, and there is an argument to be made there. The opening title cut, “No Solace, No Quarter, No Mercy”, and “House of Flies” among others stay true to this formula, perhaps even coming off as one-dimensional in places. That said, what Ringworm lacks in musical variety, they make up for in charm, if such a thing could exist within an album this cathartic. Like AC/DC and Motörhead before them, Ringworm says, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”, daring the naysayers to challenge their plan of attack.
There are, unsurprisingly, a handful of songs that lean more on the hardcore side than others, making for a swift kick in the ass for this tried and true metallist. The ripping two-step thrash mania of “Carved in Stone” makes it easy to believe everyone’s favorite 21st century crossover heroes, Power Trip, took a cue or two from The Promise. “Death Hoax” and “Thought Crimes” have old school hardcore written all of them. While the rowdy anthemic chaos of “Unavoidable Truth” recalls the glory days of Agnostic Front and Cro-Mags. There’s no shortage of filth-driven d-beat sections on this album as well, but again, what heavy act of the past 40 years hasn’t been influenced by Discharge?
For my money, Seeing Through Fire is the hardest hitting and most cohesive Ringworm album in some time. This isn’t to say their last couple releases didn’t have their moments, but they didn’t give me the same immediate gratification as earlier outings. Perhaps this has something to do with Fire‘s quick 30 minute runtime. In the same vein as The Promise 30 years before it, which only ran at 20 minutes, this is an album that doesn’t overstay its welcome, and savagely scorches you all the while. This, my friends, is a “promise”.
7 out of 10
Label: Nuclear Blast
Genre: Metalcore
For fans of: Integrity, All Out War, Slayer