ALBUM REVIEW: Chosen Hell – Comeback Kid
In the last four years since COMEBACK KID last released an album, hardcore as a genre and scene has grown exponentially to dare we say, the mainstream? With the usual suspects of TURNSTILE, KNOCKED LOOSE and MALEVOLENCE propping up the scene, you can be forgiven that in their absence, COMEBACK KID are able to hold their own in terms of quality amongst those mentioned, especially with the twenty five years of experience they bring to the scene. They’re back with a fury with their great new album Chosen Hell as they usher in a new era for the band with a dose of hardcore goodness.
There are no bells and whistles to start this record. With no fanfare and long introductions, we are thrown into a maelstrom of hardcore with a circle pit inducing opening riff and drums that bring opening track, Target On My Back to life. Its unrelenting nature sets the tone for the rest of the album which is brutal, frenetic and packed full of energy that leaves absolutely no room to take a breath, giving Chosen Hell a mighty beginning. This then bleeds into Vindication, another song that brings a classic circle pit sound where you can imagine swathes of sweating masses battering into one another like a scene from Lord Of The Rings. This track in particular is loaded with fury that weaves its way through the its DNA in a way that we have come to expect from COMEBACK KID over the years. It’s punchy, hard hitting and has a great bounce to it that will give this song an infectious feel in a live setting.
The chaos doesn’t stop there either, it somehow grows. Shedding Season continues the all out assault on the senses and just as you thought this album couldn’t get any better, COMEBACK KID throws the Queen of Screams at you in the guise of SPIRITBOX’s Courtney LaPlante who only bolsters this album with her unique style of screaming that meshes beautifully with vocalist Andrew Neufield. Once the breakdowns hit in this song, there’s no backing down from the band, you feel each and every beat, giving us an album highlight very early on.
Not letting the momentum die down, Lost And Found brings a hardcore punk style to it which like its predecessor, becomes an instant “add to the playlist” kind of tune that will warrant multiple listens once it is over. There’s a great combination of clean and harsh vocals from the band here too which brings a beautiful melody to the aggressive nature, before winding down with an acoustic finale that does bring an equilibrium back to your ear drums with just a tinge of tinnitus. We are truly eating good with Chosen Hell.
Next up is Underneath The Pressure which brings the album back to full throttle after a momentary moment of respite. Once again Andrew Neufield is able to expertly flex his vocal skills here as he goes toe to toe with the wonderful musical arrangement on display. As we hit the half way point, the albums namesake, Chosen Hell comes into play. Once again, the chaotic nature rears its head as the band questions the balance of what is good and what is evil as it feels like two songs, diverging into more of a metal song in its latter half. Another guest slot comes with our seventh track on the album with Brendan Garrone of INCENDIARY appearing on Yesterday’s Gone, which goes hand in hand perfectly with Chosen Hell as they feel very much one of the same.
As we make our way toward the back half of the album, you’d think the band would start to wind down the intensity, but reader, you’d be wrong. If anything it turns everything up to 11 and maintains that feel from here to its end. Tunnel Vision brings the chaos into the album once more with a hard hitting and bonafide hardcore track that is able to hold its own against some of the album’s best tracks as the attack on your ear drums continues and Neufield’s vocals being some of the best on the album which once again bleeds over into the fast paced and proper heavy Becoming.
Penultimate track Heartland Elegy sees the band are going to go out in style as they throw everything at the wall. A more melodic track than the rest of the record, but that doesn’t dampen the quality at all, particularly with its chorus with clean and harsh vocals combining that scratches your brain in a great way. It’s probably about as radio friendly as hardcore music gets but adds to this treasure trove of hits that COMEBACK KID have rustled up for us.
Alas, we come to the final track on the album, Too Late, a broody opening in a whirlwind of noise amidst thunderous drums reel in the end as it builds up in a desperate way through Neufield’s vocals before descending into anarchy one last time which at times is reminiscent of Brian Garris of KNOCKED LOOSE. This song brings the album to a victorious close and doesn’t relent until its absolute dying notes, leaving us with a near perfect album that leaves us battered and bruised, our ears ringing as we play the whole damn thing again.
As 2026 winds down, you’d be forgiven for already having the majority of your AOTY lists nearly complete. Chosen Hell throws a spanner in the works at the very end, giving us a late hardcore masterpiece that reminds us just how great COMEBACK KID are. This album isn’t for the faint hearted either, it is relentless and doesn’t hold back as it means war. You’ll be playing it again as soon as you finish as your mouth waters at the prospect of seeing these new songs live. Long live hardcore.
Rating: 9/10
Chosen Hell is out now via SharpTone Records.
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