Hailing from the other Dirty South (that's Southern California, specifically Los Angeles for those not in the know), the Doom Family Thugs of Donnybrook have spent the last couple years building their name, destroying the competition and laying waste to the security detail at the Whisky A Go Go. With an excellent demo, a solid split (with Piece by Piece), and one especially noteworthy EP, Donnybrook are finally getting the chance to really show what they can do with a full-length via their new home, Hand Of Hope Records, an imprint of Eulogy Recordings.
Featuring mostly new material, a couple re-recorded favorites and a District 9 cover, Lions In This Game is a collection of classic hardcore rounded out with modern edges. Donnybrook has obviously gleaned influence from bands like Madball, Sick Of It All, Leeway, Infest, Sheer Terror, and Slapshot, but they throw in some chunky beatdowns ala Hatebreed and Buried Alive amidst the two step, circle pit and wig mosh parts.
The first track, "Read 'Em and Weep," is a gritty bit of brutality that will have the dancefloor stained red in short order, while "Get Real" continues on with that untamed fury, and it's a potent one-two hit combo. The live favorite, "Purify" sounds even better than before, while the next new cut, "Iron Jaws Of Angels" has a tasty double bass portion at the end, before the breakdown goes into overdrive. Another previously released tune, "Techno-Logic-Kill" is revamped and features a guest spot courtesy of Scott Vogel (Terror, Buried Alive). "Check Your Chest" possesses more of the catchy rhythm these guys consistently exude. Additionally, I am so very thankful they finally re-did "Down For Tha Core." Don't get me wrong, I love the original; it's actually my favorite Donnybrook song. I'm just glad more people will finally get a chance to hear it, since it was only available on their CDR demo. "House Of Rage" is under a minute, straight to the point pissed off hardcore with vocal contributions from Corey Williams (Internal Affairs, Carry On) and Nick Jett (Terror, Piece by Piece.) "Word Is Bond" is up next, another heavy hitter with a thunderous breakdown, and Donnybrook follows it with the District 9 cover, which is solid as well, though I've never been a huge D9 fan by any means. Straight circle pit mayhem occurs with "Get Your Mind Right" while a new, excellent rendetion of "Fist Over Fist" closes out Lions In This Game.
Though original co-vocalist Bo Thomson departed the band before Lions... was recorded (and will be missed), Dre Stewart does a good job filling the gaps, and the songs still run smooth, no doubt in part to some back-ups from his brother, guitarist Martin Stewart. The new onslaught in the bass and drums department comes from another fraternal duo, Art and Danny Banura, also of SoCal hardcore act, BloodStandsStill.
Producer Nick Trujillio captures a smooth recording, while not supressing the rough edges that Donnybrook is so well known for. On the graphics front, things look pretty sharp, thanks in no small part to the eye catching and inventive style of Mike Bukowski. A rumble on the ice is sketched out in all its brutal, bloody glory, and it's layouts like this that sincerely makes me wish more bands were doing original artwork, instead of photos of fugly scene whores, brass knuckle silhouettes, live shots, and the other million cliches which decorate multitudes of records.
Bottom Line: Donnybrook bring the core, Left Coast born and full-force. And though it's not something radically influential, like their West based contemporaries in Terror, Piece By Piece, More To Pride, and Internal Affairs, it makes for one hell of a good time. |
