The Hardest Season: 'Dawn'

The Hardest Season - Dawn

Recently I received an email from Dale Robinson who is the founder of the record label Enjoyment Records. He sent me a link to a band called The Hardest Season who are from Italy and asked if I would review their full length Dawn. After the first listen all I could think of was ‘Wow, why haven’t I heard this band before’; their music is pretty impressive. Taking more of a push from the sounds and influences of bands such as American Nightmare and The Hope Conspiracy, this record combines everything great from this style of hardcore but also adds further heavier elements in the vein of Rise and Fall. Personally I feel that this record could be aimed at all areas of the scene as there seems to be a bit of everything for everyone.

Dawn is the follow up to their self released Demo and EP (which I am still to get hold of) but I am pretty sure it cannot be as refined as this album. This is a record you need to listen to at maximum volume to obtain the best satisfaction for your ear drums. The quality of the instrumental parts is fantastic, not a single chord out of place and everything is tightly held together. From the introduction track Confessions there are constant frantic guitar riffs and intense drum beats combined with furious screaming vocals. The next track Dead Romantic quickly turns the tables of sounds into something darker and heavier cutting to a catchy moshing sound. There is a perfect balance between the well-structured instrumental melodies and the vicious sludgy breaks, particularly apparent in Sleepless and The Storm. This music is fast and keeps you on your toes with raw, screaming vocals containing so much passion and emotion.

It’s not all about the quick drums and fast paced riffs that are enticing about this album though; The Forward combines some pleasant sounding guitar melodies, adding contrast between the Tear Valley Sickness Blues and The Storm, breaking them apart in an effective change of pace. Twentyeight to Ten is another catchy track that contains more energetic heavy riffs and towards the end there are some toned down gang style vocals bringing an accomplished feel to the end of the record, finishing with Last Fuckin’ Scarred Lines.

I really got into this record and it’s fresh sound from Italian hardcore. The sound is very emotional but effective with the perfect amount of heaviness and melodies creating an all round compelling full length. You can check out one song from Dawn on their bandcamp. If you like it then I suggest you pre-order it.