Just imagine if there was some form of accolade such as a cup, a medal or a trophy of any form in the hardcore universe for possessing a diverse roster. If such an award existed then Deathwish would be a serious contender for the title as they show once again the breath of their artist selection with Sweden’s Victims, a veteran of the Swedish d-beat/crust phenomenon. Despite their sound being distinctly rooted in the past, the burning rage that is omnipresent in Killer’s 26 minutes manages to lift the band beyond being a redundant throwback. In fact, given the sheer saturation of your deathcore inbreds, beatdown masters and old school revivalists, it’s refreshing to come across an album such as this one.

Much like label brethren Trap Them (oft believed to be of Swedish origin), Victim’s power lays in their earthy roar and their direct, fat free apocalyptic barrage that is built on the simplest of elements, i.e. rattling beats, pounding bass, stabbing riffs and, most importantly, raw, raw vox, frantically bellowed without respite. Unlike Trap Them, there appears to be no urge to push their sound forward into the 21st century, no, no, no, Victims seem content on raging as if it was 1989 against everything and everyone.

Prime evidence of Victims intent to not progress and implement more modern instruments to their barrage comes in the length of their compositions. Nothing tops three minutes on Killer, and why the hell should it? The point is to inflict as much destruction in as little time as possible and those crusty punks in the 80s did that sublimely in even less time. At first the minimalist approach can appear to wear thin and cause tracks to bleed into each other, but the more listens reveal a lot more depth, thought and construct then on those initial listens. Sly trickles of melody seep in throughout and again, only become apparent as familiarity grows with Killer, a particularly potent example being the smooth chords and breaks that breathe (or break out in fact) during “Breaking Out.”For the majority though, it’s about rage and pretty much any piece on the record will fulfil that need.

Victims may not be the most brutal, heavy, progressive or whatever adjective you want to tag to an artist but they are certainly one of the most honest stalking around these days, and that alone is something to admire.

[Visit the band's website]

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