Madball

New York City’s Madball continues to let you know that they’re still here, still sincere and still doing it better than everyone else. Not by simply saying so - any band can brag on themselves - but by year after year producing crucial recorded output in-line with the temperature of the times and consistently presenting devastating live performances dripping with ferocity, integrity and passion. Ain’t nothing changed. MB doesn’t concern itself with online debates regarding the old school days versus the present, because the group proudly maintains a substantial chunk of both. The essence of hardcore is in its DNA; quite literally in the blood of its front man Freddy Cricien, in large part due to his familial relationship with Agnostic Front icon, Roger Miret. “Bridging the old to the new is something I think we’ve always done whether consciously or subconsciously,” Freddy explains. “This new album, Not Your Kingdom achieves that, but maybe on a more personal level than ever before. We’ve sort of reinvented ourselves without losing a bit of what we are.” Freddy and co. represent the heart and soul of the hardcore movement. That’s a fact. And that personification shines brilliantly on their newest long player. The collection bears each of the musical ingredients which have made Madball what it has been for the better part of an unfathomable 38 years as a band: volume, energy, groove, power and crunch, but with some tasteful and well-placed twists and turns.