MADBALL

We all know about the iconic status afforded to New York hardcore giants MADBALL and the string of classic albums released between 1989 and 2000. Some might even add 2005's comeback album "Legacy" to the mix. MADBALL has always been convincing, true to its roots, and more than competent in dishing out what has been a rather traditional brand of hardcore. So what about new album "Infiltrate the System" then? You are about to find out.

Lyrically, a militant sociopolitical slant has been taken on the album, as one might surmise from the album title. The gang-shouted line "No peace without justice" on "We the People" speaks to it, as do the lyrics to the title track, and attacks on other institutions, such as on "Takeover" ("We'll go to war with the industry until we take it over"). As one would expect a little hardcore pride is on display on the rather cliché "Stand Up NY" and its chorus of "Stand up New York hardcore, show your pride." In a nutshell, the standard themes run side by side with the politically-informed diatribes, and most of it works just fine.

Musically, "Infiltrate the System" is about as by-the-book hardcore as it gets, aside from the metallic edges on some of the tracks and a largely mid-placed delivery. Everything here is at least decent, and several tracks are quite good. By the same token, things sound a tad ho-hum at times, even for a hardcore album. It just feels like an album with a handful of good songs and several that are just OK. Still, MADBALL continue to sound more convincing than most. "Infiltrate the System" should satisfy long-time fans, but it will not go down as a classic either