ALBUM REVIEW: Conditioned For Demolition – Haywire
HAYWIRE are the smelling salts needed to kick you out of the new year’s daze, with a 20-minute non-stop middle finger of a debut record Conditioned For Demolition. Firmly ingrained in their Boston roots, this hardcore outfit have a sense of aggressive loyalty to their home weaved throughout the debut. Not only is this an introduction to an exciting, developing band, but also to a wealth of other hardcore bands belonging to the infamous Boston scene.
Conditioned For Demolition is like a train, it just doesn’t stop chuggin’ on, and in its first carriage HAYWIRE make a statement. B.H.C.A.D.E.D opens with the only words being “Boston hardcore, all day everyday,” to be swiftly followed up by Poser Disposer, a sucker punch to any half-arsed wannabes that won’t die for the cause – that’s some pretty hardcore hardcore messaging. This carriage is rounded off into a trio of passengers with the eponymous Haywire, a feverish track with few breaks to halt the chaos that ensues, cementing their 90s-inspired feverish style.
Three tracks alone bring the realisation that HAYWIRE are an excitable bunch, fluidly moving from track to track without drama, and they are keen to keep on heading forward with no restraint. Blasting through 11 tracks in just 20 minutes they cover topics like revenge and class, set cinematic scenes of end of the night brawls, and find time to bring in features like CHUBBY AND THE GANG and CONSERVATIVE MILITARY IMAGE. Love Song is complemented by the West London punks’ presence, giving HAYWIRE’s sound the uplifting few inches that it needs to break up the 11 tracks. There’s a momentary lapse in attitude, swapping out venomously spat lyrics for something more heartfelt as the chorus, sung by Charlie Walker — of the gang — goes “I don’t wanna set the world on fire / I just wanna watch it burn, burn with you.”
March Of The White Trash Pt.2 keeps things strictly instrumental, but sets the mood all the way to doom, shifting the atmosphere back to unhinged intent. Frustration boils to the surface only to be ejected throughout Get To Steppin. Circling around a sort of class tourism and the sheer cheek that it takes to go ahead and do that, HAYWIRE take a stance that feels like they’re going to come for you with everything they’ve got. It feels sadistic with the frivolous melody at times, like a big dog playing with its rodent prey.
HAYWIRE have gone from being a band that hadn’t even played their first show until December, to releasing a body of work that is blockbuster worthy with noteworthy features that should make your jaw hang when taking into account that this is their debut album. Add a heavy coating of their experiences in Boston’s hardcore culture and you end with Conditioned For Demolition — a no skip debut.
Rating: 9/10
Conditioned For Demolition is out now via DAZE.
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