Skull Crusher - Blinded by Illusion - 12"/mcd

Is it possible to do a dark, heavy record while sticking to your hardcore roots and not going for the metalsound? Only a few bands manage to do so. Mostly old bands like Leeway, Cro-Mags and Judge. In my opinion the only band that ever got close to the Judge sound was Collateral Damage. It took another thirteen years before I get to name another band: Skull Crusher.

With 'Straight' Ed McKirdy (formerly of The Suppression Swing, Hands Tied, The Killing Flame and Triple Threat + founder of Livewire Records) on vocals and Gordo (one of the main guys behind everyone's favorite blog) on drums, Skull Crusher is no newcomer to the scene. Some people might have high expectations of this band. And they won't be dissapointed.

Ed McKirdy really comes close to the heavy yet emotional vocals of Mike Judge. But vocals are nothing if not backed by good music. Well Skullcrusher is all about good music. Imagine Judge, a bit of Underdog and some Icemen members going all out and the result would be close to the four songs Skull Crusher brings to the table.

This great music comes with amazing artwork by scene favorite Linas Garsys. It also features a famous sample from the movie Taxi Driver:
All the animals come out at night - whores, skunk pussies, buggers, queens, fairies, dopers, junkies, sick, venal. Someday a real rain will come and wash all this scum off the streets.

Usually I am no big fan of four song ep's. By the time I'm into the songs, the record is already over. Skull Crusher however manages to pull me right in and doesn't let go till the last second of the last track. There's so much going on in the songwriting that hitting the repeat button again and again comes naturally.

In a day and age where bands like Terror and Born From Pain are considered hard and heavy it is good to see a new band like Skull Crusher taking inspiration from old bands to create a sound that is authentic, different and agressive without falling for the metalcore stuff. Looks like Reflections Records have got themselves another winner!