EP REVIEW: What Time Takes – Berthold City

The Los Angeles hardcore bruisers BERTHOLD CITY are back with their latest EP What Time Takes, which contains four brand new tracks from the veterans of the scene. The group formed in 2017 from the wreckage of a number of different local acts and have since gone on to release their debut extended play Moment Of Truth before hitting the road in support of numerous high profile acts such as SICK OF IT ALL, AGNOSTIC FRONT and TERROR to name but a few. Now, in 2019, BERTHOLD CITY are back with fresh material and are ready to take the scene by storm.

The EP opens with the title track What Times Take and nail their colours to the mast from the outset. The intensity is high and the energy is palpable, with the heavily distorted guitar lines and two step drum beats that are designed with the single purpose of creating frenzied crowds when played live. The vocals from Andrew Kline are equal parts emotive and aggressive that serve needs of the song perfectly. The gang vocals and overall feeling of the song drips with the same kind of swagger and attitude that you would find on any of BLACK FLAG or MINOR THREAT’s early releases. A perfect way to introduce the band’s sophomore effort to the world.

The following track No One To Blame dials up the aggression another notch and shows just what BERTHOLD CITY are capable of when they have a bit between their teeth. The band exchange the solid, two step beats for a more frantic approach here to devastating effect and provide the perfect backing track for the crowd surfers to do their thing to. The second half of the track slams on the brakes and shifts to a half time head banging section that gives the listener a chance to come up for air. The pace is picked up once again though on the following song Beware The Snakes. This track in particular is where drummer Adam Galindo really gets a chance to show what he can do. The fills are complex and intricate and the force with which he hammers his drum kit speaks volumes about the kind of player he is and how his driving beats push the songs onward with such power.

The final song on What Time Takes, Broken Foundation, has a much more old school feel to it. Building steadily from the outset with muted guitars and thinking beats before flying off in to high octane hardcore. This is stripped down, old school hardcore music that will not only appease the old guard who stumble across it but also young fans of the genre who can get a modern take on the formula that was laid down back in the ’70s and ’80s.

What Time Takes is further proof that BERTHOLD CITY are performing at the top of their game in 2019. The ferocity and high energy of What Time Takes is only matched by the maturity and experience that has gone in to the song writing. The only issue with the release is the fact that it’s entire run time clocks in at around seven minutes, which leaves the audience hungry for more and waiting with baited breath whilst the band work towards their debut full length album which hopefully isn’t in the too distant future.

Rating: 8/10

What Time Takes is out now via WAR Records. 

Like BERTHOLD CITY on Facebook.