Album Review

This album is more than I originally thought. On first listen I practically dismissed it as second-rate metallic hardcore tripe, because everything from the artwork to the production was nothing new. NTF are a throwback to the mid-‘90s spirit-filled hardcore days of old; we‘re talking Strongarm and Focused here, and that‘s high praise. The hidden gem on this record is the lyrical output; thoughtful, creative and visual, they help bring music that‘s wholly unoriginal up a few notches. The irritating habit of making the language conform to the musical structure plagues Trials, but you can overlook it for lines like, "my demons take control as the winter grows/conspiring with the creatures in the blackest places/they hum grave songs". NTF are big on unity (‘Prepare For War‘, ‘Beyond Blood‘), balancing the standard brotherhood tunes with tales of redemption from the rough times. Good stuff.