In Norway this full length debut by Social Suicide, following up on 2009s EP ‘Kansas City Shuffle’, have taken most by storm, and I have to join the choir praising the young Bergen quartet (average age around 20). Admittedly I’m not a big connoisseur of the harder renditions of rock, and thus I have to trust others saying that these four guys move about screamo and hardcore on the same wavelengths as acts like Converge, Gallows and their now defunct compatriots JR Ewing. I do, however, dig ‘Broken Pilgrims’ quite a bit.

The 11 songs are punk-short (the album clocks in at roughly half an hour and just one, awesome album closer ‘The Last Martyrs’, hit four minutes), aggressive and loud, yet sport great melodic qualities – in songs like ‘Fallen Angels’ and the title track there’s actually singalong potential – and ditto variation through challenging, polyrhythmic beats (handled with impressive skill by drummer Esteban Munoz) and inventive riffs, courtesy of equally skillful guitarist Bjarte Haugland. Add a solid backbone provided by bassman Remi Arefjord and powerhouse singer Sondre Haug’s raucous delivery, and you’ve got a winner.

Produced by Tommy Akerholdt (Silver, Serena-Maneesh) Social Suicide’s ‘Broken Pilgrims’ is one of those very rare occasions where you really won’t mind being kicked in the groin for half an hour straight by a Norwegian band. Excellent…

Genre: Screamo/Hardcore/Metal
Who: Social Suicide
Album: Broken Pilgrims
Label: Brilliance Records
Year: 2010
Country: Norway
Language: English
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Recommended tracks:
Mail From The Watchtower – Harlots & Prophets – Broken Pilgrims – Fallen Angels – The Last Martyrs