For those not in the know, I hate to break it to you but Trapped Under Ice is not another throwback thrash band.

Far, far, far from it in fact, rather, this is some of the meanest, tuffest hardcore you’ll hear this year, probably next year too and the year after that. What’s more Trapped Under Ice are one of the most distinctive hardcore bands I have heard for quite some time, despite their sound being drenched in the flavours of the most thugged and riotous outfits from the 90s (think Next Step Up, Bulldoze, Merauder, Crown of Thornz et al) there is something decidedly different about them. Even a full year and a half following the Stay Cold, collection where I have digested, reconsumed and digested again all their discography, I am still unable to pin it. It’s in the favour because this band is feverishly addictive, and not just one or two tunes, more like I have to play all 20+ on my IPOD.

The opening one two of “See God,” and “Believe,” sets it off nicely. A firm jab from the former and then a gut wrenching dig from the latter, especially when they bring the house down 30 seconds from the end with a face smashing beatdown that is just monolithic. What stands as most impressive about Trapped Under Ice is how much they do in such brief running times. They can stretch two minutes into double with the amount of riffs, tempo changes and rallying shifts and transitions that they move through, it’s seriously impressive, and what’s more, they never, ever regurgitate a mood, a riff from a previous piece.

That’s not to say that you get one tune sounding like Bulldoze and then the next Britney Spears, admitted there is a common thread that holds everything together but simultaneously everything is so different from each other. The creativity and impact is truly flexed on the rerecorded “Gemini,” from the Dirty Money split. This piece absolutely pounds and is followed by an even more impressive composition, this being “Too true.” Again, another shape shifter in moods and tempos, it weaves diverse passages so seamlessly that it’s a wonder they fit at all, but they do and it elegantly boasts the best solo of the album.

In the end though, this is a hardcore album by a hardcore band that is proud of what it is and doesn’t hide what it is, but whilst Trapped Under Ice maintain this integrity they are fully committed to pushing the boundaries of their sound to create something unique, memorable and most importantly, intense.
That alone should be reason enough to check these bruisers out.

[Visit the band's website]

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