“Repeat the lies that you’re telling yourself to live.“
Incendiary‘s place and prominence in the hardcore scene is set in stone as one of the finest bands going. Their live performances are dominated by commanding vocal hooks; “There’s no hope in an unclenched fist” from “Still Burning“, “We decide our own demise” on “Survival” and “If you don’t know what the product is, the product is you” from “The Product Is You“. Looking to add to this comes Incendiary‘s fourth full-length, Change The Way You Think About Pain, which sees the New-York unit further refine their sound.
Opening “Change The Way You Think About Pain” in the expected pounding fashion comes “Bite The Hook” and “Jesus Bones“, and the sharpening of Incendiary‘s production will make an immediate impression. The kicks and riffs feel impactful on the ear, and while it may feel slightly more compressed, it adds an extra forcefulness to their sound. The darker and forthright themes begin to sink in, as the record confronts the self, and assesses how the world impacts this reflection; “Look into the mirror, meet the one you blame” drives opener “Bite The Hook“.
What follows comes one of the strongest stretches of songs beginning with “Echo of Nothing“, building a tense energy with its teasing riff and precise cymbal chimes. Before the breakdown hits, which will be the talking point of the track, Incendiary deliver a pertinent chorus:
“All quiet on the western front
While they cry for help in the eastern mud
Refusing the calls to deliver aid
Because the waiving flag is a different shade“
As a nose-breaker of a breakdown hits, the vocal hook “Every window deserves a brick” is yelled over the top. It is unquestionable that, going forward, “Echo of Nothing” should hold a place on Incendiary‘s live setlist. In a concert setting the track will meet its deserved appreciation – you can already visualise the audience shouting back at vocalist Garrone.
The record is unrelenting as next comes “Host/Parasite“. A booming double-kick fills the track and commands it throughout, complimenting the piquant riffs. In a much familiar fashion to what came before, a chunky breakdown comes blended with further vocal hooks that will leave punters torn between a mic grab and throwing a fist.
The groove really hits on “Lie Of Liberty“, a track that takes a more measured approach instrumentally in its opening moments, yet is still pleasing on the ear. Vocally, the track shows off the stone cold lyricism that Incendiary deliver.
“Fraudulent patriot
Blue line penitent
Cosplay soldier
False American“
The slicing breakdown that hits has an emotive rage to that gives more force than what has come before it; utter rage and disgust seethes through, on both vocal and instrumental fronts.
As “CTE” hits, Change The Way You Think About Pain will begin to wean out those not in for the long run. While both this and “Collision” does somewhat suffer from the a hangover of the previous tracks, the quality of Incendiary ensues with impassioned vocal delivery, “We’re searching for something, this side would rather die, than give a fucking inch“.
In comes “Rats In The Cellar“, which has a Thousand Mile Stare nature to it, as “Are you still one of the living?” is let out followed by “Standing out amongst the sheep” as the chorus closes. It is here that a slight desire of variation does seep in, even if it were to be something as minimal as a feature, which their counterparts Terror have recently touched on.
Closing tracks “Santosha/Illusion of the Self” and the title track “Change The Way You Think About Pain” hone in on the album’s core themes. The former feels like an intro for the closer, touching on desperation before realisation with “No I can’t escape it, it always ends the same“, before the title tracks lays out “Are you going to save yourself?“. The track ties back to the avoidance of suffering, what freedom consists of, and the surrounding world being a heteronomy of the soul. On their longest track to date, Incendiary put forth a commanding cry for a change in perception that underpins the themes of Change The Way You Think About Pain.
Those who have waited six years for an Incendiary full-length will be more than rewarded here, and there no question that the unit have spent that time learning how to hone their craft and sound. On Change The Way You Think About Pain, Incendiary seek to offer up more than just exotic breakdowns and riffs for an easy impression. Within their lyricism, they challenge the mindset we bring to thinking about our very selves, along with the wider socio-political implications. Despite it’s brief middle lull, Change The Way You Think About Pain will be a deeply impressionable record for those who open their minds to it, and many of these tracks will become a staple of Incendiary‘s live set.
8/10
Change The Way You Think About Pain is out May 26th via Closed Casket Activities, and can be pre-ordered here.