They Say :- Biohazard has sold over five million albums worldwide since their formation in the late eighties in Brooklyn, New York. They achieved international success with their albums Urban Discipline on Roadrunner Records in 1992 and 1994’s State of the World Address on Warner Brothers. Over the years, Biohazard has collaborated with Onyx, Cypress Hill, Agnostic Front, Hatebreed, Pantera and Type O Negative amongst others. The band has continued to tour nationally and internationally, sharing stages with the likes of House of Pain, Ozzy Osbourne, Slayer, Danzig, Fear Factory, Sepultura and Agnostic Front.
We Say :- For me, Biohazard have always been one of those hit and miss bands. They’ve had flashes of brilliance over their illustrious career, but I’ve also heard some stuff that left me cold. I would have to say that State Of The World Address was by far my favourite album.
Reborn In Defiance was recorded with the now departed vocalist Evan Seinfeld, who announced his departure from the band on the eve of the band’s performance at Download 2011. Nice timing I’m sure you’ll agree, but despite that the band went on stage at Castle Donnington and still kicked ass.
So what’s it like then? Well I’ll tell you… For starters, it’s a heavy slab of an album. If you drop the CD on your foot you’ll spend weeks in plaster, it’s just that heavy. It’s got some serious riffs on here, but there’s also a side to the band that I’ve not heard before, a more melancholy and melodic side. It adds another dimension to their music and fits really well on this album giving it a more rounded feel. It’ll still rip your head off and shit down your neck if you give it the chance though, so respect is definitely due.
Reborn In Defiance packed full of the angst and aggression that has become the band’s trademark, but they’ve grown up a lot since the early days. Whilst before their only line of attack was a full frontal assault, with this album they approach down the flanks and even come up behind you.
Yes it’s got some pleasant surprises, as well as familiarity. Old Biohazard fans should lap this up, but it will also find favour with a whole new audience. The guys have been around assaulting our eardrums for over a quarter of a century, which is no mean feat, and they show no signs of letting up just yet. OK, so they’ll still crush your skull into a bloody pulp, but now they’ve found a few different ways to get it done, rather than the usual sledgehammer approach.
For me this is possibly one of the best albums that Biohazard have produced. What’s more, this is Seinfeld’s swan song, and if this is the direction in which the band are going the next album should be very interesting indeed. For now though, Reborn In Defiance isn’t just an album, it’s a statement. The boys are back in town and they’re baying for blood.
Defiant to the end.
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