Integrity has been around for 25+ years... a household name amongst hardcore fans. They invented 'Hatebreed riffs' before the latter band existed. Although Integrity's heyday was just a little before my prime in the metallic hardcore scene, I was quickly drawn to the band due to their legendary status and their striking use of gnostic imagery, which I was already obsessed with.
I would imagine anyone reading this already knows that Integrity paved the roads for a sound known as "Holy Terror." It's also commonly known that back in 2010, when brothers Nathan and Michael Jochum departed and formed Ancient VVisdom, Dwid teamed up with the multi-talented Robert Orr to create this new direction for the band. Modern Integrity is a bit more sonically diverse and solo laden than the original incarnation, but ultimately the same beast we love.
For fans that are new to this, you'll like it if you're into the type of hardcore that has a bit of a 'rock & roll' injection. There are things on this album that, on paper, sound incredible strange and bring to mind reactions to albums like Metallica's Load, but, I assure you... they work. Things like melodic parts, southern/bluesy influences, harmonica, and guitar solos are all facets of the new mixes. Truly, there is a cohesiveness in the tracklist, which is clearly thought out. Diehard fans know these songs - there's five off Detonate VVorlds Plague, the song from their recent split with Gehenna, and four brand new ones. Robert Orr and Dwid Hellion are simply a great team, with Dwid's ungodly roars coasting along Robert mountainous licks. Without a doubt, there are moments during a listen to this album, where you will be filled with the same excitement you feel when enjoying HITD-era Integrity.
Dwid has stated that he prefers doing singles, which is why we always get re-recordings of familiar songs. For this record, it's very much worth buying again if you have these songs on the original releases like I do, because the recording quality is so much more professional this time around. And we're all record collectors, right?! Seriously, as I mentioned, the tracklist enjoyed as a whole is a much better representation and entry point to "new Integrity" than The Blackest Curse, in my humble opinion.
Review Score 4.25/5
Suicide Black Snake was a dual release with A389 Records and Magic Bullet Records. I believe the vinyl is sold out (check Discogs) but if you're into CDs, there's a nice digipack still available.
PS 50th post!
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