In the fickle world of underground aggressive music and specifically that of hardcore, there are bands that transcend being just another band or just another name. There are bands that represent entire ideas and movements within those scenes. They are icons of what was and what is. Sick of It All is one of these. Along with NY hardcore greats Agnostic Front, Cro-Mags, Madball, Breakdown, Youth of Today, and many others, Sick of It All encapsulates NY Hardcore.

New York hardcore represents its namesake city well. Direct, and to-the-point in its delivery. Chaotic, loud, and even violent in its expression. All the while, NY hardcore never lets you forget where it comes from and what it means to the loyal members of her church. Sick of It All is a patron saint to those who ascribe to the gospel of hardcore.

Fellow New York Hardcore contemporaries, the Cro-Mags were one of the first bands to really breakthrough in the hardcore scene with a very metal/thrash influence. Sick of It All carries on this crossover tradition combining the collectivism and inclusionary nature of punk music, with its skank beats, gang-vocals, catchy melodies, memorable choruses, with the heavy handed dissonant, crunch and groove hard edge of metal. No doubt, Sick of It All’s new album is soundtrack for circle pits, stage dives, pile-ons, and hard pitting.

Musically, Based on a True Story is what one would expect: a smearing of punk here, a smattering of metal there, with simple chord progressions and predictable song structures. Thrash riffs, up-beat tempos, power chords galore, half-time breakdowns and climactic lyrical catch phrases. These are the ingredients in any hardcore album released in the last 10 years. And they are indeed all here. As with most hardcore, what you hear is what you get. And in this simplicity, is the appeal of hardcore. The connection a band has with a listener is not always from some tangible, stylistic aspect. Out of the simplicity and accessibility of Sick of It All’s sound comes a timelessness and uniqueness that is difficult to index or describe. This is inexplicable elegance of hardcore. Ultimately, their success musically is really dependent on the connection it creates with the identity of the listener. It’s simple: you’ll love it, or you’ll forget it.

This band hasn’t been made soft by time. Sick of It All is still anti-establishment, distrustful of authority, and critical of society. Based on a True Story provides social commentary and perspective from a band that has seen a quarter century of existence. Their message and anger is still is relevant. Perhaps it is discouraging to realize that all the broken things kids were pissed off about in 1986 are still broken, and still pissing people off. Hardcore gives voice and place to those who feel like their lives have been disrupted by the failures of society. It is the cathartic anthem of the disaffected and cynical, those who are disillusioned with the promises of modern society and its institutions. Perhaps this is idealistic and even naive in the face of the dominating superficial hipster aesthetics of modern “counter-culture”. Sick of It All remains true to this calling while avoiding overwhelming negative. Based on a True Story is confrontational and expressive in its frustration, but still resolved in its optimism.

What makes Based on a True Story enjoyable is the ability of Sick of It All to navigate between the fun and whimsical melodies of early punk with the raw and aggressive fist-swinging energy of hardcore, all the while providing an intense and kinetic experience, compelling your body to move and your voice to join the chorus. Based on a True Story isn’t an attempt to reinvent the band or their sound. There is a security Sick of It All displays in the album in this way (though some might call it a complacency). They aren’t trying to prove their relevance or place in hardcore mythos and legend. The nearly 25 year old band is still doing what they love, playing what they love and have remained timeless.

4.0/5