Since Louisianan hardcore heavy-hitters CAPRA released their blistering - and critically acclaimed - debut, "In Transmission" back in April 2021, the band's popularity has grown exponentially to see the quartet deservedly garner legions of fans across the world. Their music speaks to the soul, embalmed with a caustic blend of malevolent riffage, fervently brutal lyrics, and delivering life through a merciless and authentic lens, it's easy to see how metalheads and hardcore fanatics alike have fallen hard for CAPRA. With relentless tours across the US under their belts and a European stint in action as we speak, it's impressive that the band has found time to create the sophomore full-length, "Errors", especially given how seriously high-quality a release they've composed, too. In fact, give me a more impassioned and sedulous band to soul-fuelled metallic hardcore than CAPRA, and I'll eat my hat.

If the last couple of years have given CAPRA anything, it's an organic maturation in their sound that stems from harnessing the ability to project inner reflection outwardly. Where "In Transmission" went for the jugular on pertinent societal issues and castigated on behalf of the masses, "Errors" introspectively dissects this scorn, producing an authentic catharsis. "Errors" is no less an ire-fuelled affair than its predecessor, but there's an unmistakeable authenticity and courage in this album that injects subtleties outside of hardcore - within the mesh of unfeigned personal wrath - and throws curveballs that showcase unseen dimensions of the band; those are the flavours of CAPRA's second effort that make "Errors" spectacular.

The backbone of the album still relies on the trenchant, fleshed-out, sludgy metallic hardcore CAPRA has previously administered, with "CHSF" erupting with its seething guitars and pain-slathered vocals, and "Tied Up" whirling with its chaos and crushing time signatures. The boisterous battery of "Silana" beckons a bloody combustion of scathingly embittered vocal obliteration and blistering, bleak guitar tones and sullen drum fills to harness the dignified scorn of crossed swords in a wholly ruinous cut. It's this punitive blend of immense, weighty passages of crushing intensity, the consistently abrasive and devastating vocal delivery, and how "Errors" is completely engorged in fervent ferocity, that elevate this record. Take "Trauma Bond", a track that wields its unrelenting hardcore weaponry, contracting with intermittent d-beat and gang-chants in a ball of emotive rage, and the angry sincerity of "Loser" which pulsates with its apoplexy of riffs and spitting vocal delivery.

The scorch of CAPRA's candid approach to personal pain is very real, and there's no mistaking the intentions of "Errors". The second half of the full-length is just as visceral and palpable as the first, with some brawny stylistic developments that catapult the musicianship on this sterling effort immeasurably. The muscular "Kingslayer" epitomises the very concept of 'real talk' through its harsh, syncopated drum intro, rumbling into a thrashier dalliance for the band that's still consumed by the retaliatory measures of its hardcore ammunition. Offering a more multi-dimensional output, "Human Commodity" snaps with an incendiary vocal show from Crow and WALLS OF JERICHO Candace Kucsulain-Puopolo where caustic aloofness and broken glass growls meet to forge an incandescent face-melting track, underpinned by the boiling chaos of battering guitars that bleed into the howling indignation of "Transplant". With little chance for reprieve on "Errors", its maelstrom of hate and resentment continues in the hulking and pessimistic "Obligatory Existence", with dissonance hurling throughout this juggernaut track, yet a beautiful softness emerges towards the end to make way for CAPRA's sweetest slice of ambience in "Errors": "Nora". In a deliberate juxtaposition to the rest of the album - and in something that feels like a metaphorical 'closing the lid' on the box of emotional turmoil unleashed over the previous nine tracks - "Nora" speaks to your soul with its ethereal black metal-styled atmospheres, blasts, and heartfelt lyrics, all cleverly integrated within a foundation of uncompromising attitude.

Capturing the very essence of the innermost self in music is no mean feat, let alone portraying the profundity of human response to burning trauma, heartsore pain, and life's bitter anguish, but CAPRA have surpassed that in their innovative and stripped-back-bare approach to their sophomore record. "Errors" is one of this year's rawest, most authentic releases, and testament to the beauty personal suffering projects when channelled as a pure catharsis for the soul. Set for release on 6^th October, this is one of 2023's 'must-have' albums.