ALBUM REVIEW: Härvest – Poison Ruïn
By its definition, nostalgia is a sentimental longing or wistful affection for a period in the past. And within our world, nostalgia can be seen in the resurgence of the old school-leaning death metal of bands like CREEPING DEATH or TOMB MOLD, or as is the case for punk, in music that is seen to stick rigidly to the rulebook of yesteryear. By no means is nostalgia a bad thing, there’s always room at the table for the sounds that first carved open a new era of heaviness and such is the case for POISION RUÏN with their new album Härvest.
Wrapped in a concept of Medieval strife and struggle – not the first subject matter that springs to mind when one thinks of punk – this Philadelphia rabble use this as a cornerstone to ramp up their aural racket and across Härvest‘s lean runtime, the band are effective at making a lasting impression. Swirls of synthy Medieval-esque undertones set the scene in album opener Pinnacle Of Ecstasy before a barrage of punchy riffing from guitarists Nao Demand and Mac Kennedy incite bedlam, with the former’s vocals cutting through the noise with the utmost ease.
From there, POISION RUÏN continue with their MO of delivering high-octane action throughout the album’s 34-minute duration. A one-two punch of Resurrection I and Resurrection II injects a fresh bout of adrenaline at the album’s halfway mark; Tome Of Illusion is a raw slab of viciousness that would sit comfortably in the dive bar’s jukebox; and Torture Chamber throws in a splash of hardcore influence that guarantees the song to be a pit rager in the live arena.
For all that POISION RUÏN unleash across Härvest, and there is ample attitude for aural destruction here, unfortunately, the record is something of a one-trick pony. The synthy elements to capture the Medieval theme are used sporadically throughout the album but they never feel truly connected with the band’s overall sound, with the opening medley on the title track being a particularly bad culprit of this, feeling more of an add-on than providing something genuinely intriguing. In addition, there’s the risk here that POISION RUÏN aren’t showcasing enough to truly stand out in a bloated and over-saturated market. With music consumption at an all-time high, it beckons the question if there is enough here to truly capture and hold your attention?
If you’re looking for an album to reinvent the wheel or break into new territory, you’ll be disappointed with Härvest. The record does little to push punk into new horizons, however, if you’re looking for a raucous good time, then this album delivers in spades. Raw, high-octane and full of slick distorted riffage, POISION RUÏN more than deliver here and if that’s your bag, strap yourself in for a damn good time.
Rating: 7/10
Härvest is out now via Relapse Records.
