North American Hardcore evolved a lot since the 80s: from the nasty days when DEAD KENNEDYS was offensive to the moralistic society of USA (and other countries as well), passing by the coming of Crossover days, where D.R.I. SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, S.O.D. CRO-MAGS and others ruled supreme, and when HATEBREED brought some modern elements into the genre, North American Hardcore seems to live on for the disgust and despair of the conservative ones. And here is another fine representing name of the genre: of Syracuse, New York (a city with a long history with Hardcore) comes FREYA, here to stomp flat you bones and ears with “Fight as One”. As the band’s sixth album, “Fight as One” shows a mature musical work of a band that mixes Hardcore in NYHC ways with massive weight of Crossover and with massive breakdowns.

But, don’t get the wrong idea: these ogres of New York ghettos know how to play fast and nasty (as shown on “1000 Yard Stare”) in an Old School Hardcore way, but always with an young and oppressive approach. It’s not an offense to say that they are creating a link between the past and the future, but smashing necks and corroding bones in the present with their massive, heavy and nasty musical work. It’s really great to hear such form of music with such life. Ethan D. Henry (the band’s drummer) is the producer and worked setting the gears for the recordings. And the result is something brutal, nasty and sharp, full of a true Hardcore essence, but defining things to be understood by the old and young fans of their work. And as guests, the band brought Jamey Jasta (of HATEBREED) to sing on “Sense of Doom”, Freddy Cricien (of HAZEN STREET and MADBALL) on the vocals of “Fight as One”, and Scott Vogel (of BAD BLOOD, TERROR and WORLD BE FREE) on “1000 Yard Stare”.

The band’s music is like a drilling screw into the brain of the non-used fans, but for those that are into what NYHC means and stands for, songs as “Nothingness or God” (the massive weight and abrasive guitar riffs hooks the hearers easily with such slow paced set of tempos), “Sense of Doom” (another modern Hardcore song filled with a bonecrushing weight and contrasts created by bass guitar and drums on the rhythms), “1000 Yard Stare” (here the presence of classic Hardcore rhythms can be heard on the faster moments), “Back to Haunt” (this Crossover moment of the album is filled with Groove/Thrash Metal influences of the 90s), “Flames of War” (another song with some faster parts showing Old School Hardcore elements, and with harsh screamed vocals), “Beyond Despair” (brutal breakdowns and slow tempos creates a nasty ambience, with aggressiveness flowing from the speakers), and “Odin” being samples of the onslaught shown by the quintet.

Hardcore is still alive and living in the ghettos and slums, as shown by “Fight as One”. And FREYA shows guts to become a leading force and a respected name in the scene.