Reign Supreme - Testing the Limits of Infinite
It's no big mystery that the best things in life don't need to be fancy or complicated to be great. Sometimes, true and simple takes home the gold. PA's hardcore powerhouse Reign Supreme have made it their mission to prove this fact in their newest record "Testing the Limits of Infinite". This is the band's second release on Deathwish Inc, and is a follow up to their "American Violence" EP. I was extremely excited to check this record out, being a fan of this band and the label for quite some time now.
The first track on the record, titled "Mother Superior", instantly reminds me of why I've always held Reign Supreme in such high regards among other modern hardcore acts. It's mean. It's heavy. It's no bullshit. It is honest metallic hardcore, the way it is meant to be played. Track after track, this record showcases wave after wave of mammoth riffs, and a veritable ocean of some of the most powerful, hard hitting choruses I've ever heard. To my surprise, the record even has a few re-recorded tracks from their previous EP tossed into the mix, which was completely fine with me.
Jay Pepito's signature harsh, almost to the point of breaking, vocal delivery alone deserves more recognition than most entire records I've heard this year. I don't understand how the guy does it. My throat would be in shreds after the first minute or two. Unlike the band's previous releases however, he embraces the use of varied vocal patterns to really make each song it's own breed of monster. For example, at the end of track 9, titled "And Come What May", he engages in what seems like a traditional hardcore sing-a-long, which I haven't heard this band make much use of in the past. It's a sign that even a band that knows exactly who they are and what they want to do has room for progression. Lyrically, the record fits the standard RS mold. They're short, simple, and usually deal strongly with personal struggle, self-motivation, and the fallacies of modern religion, all of which are presented with a sense of real passion and sincerity.
I guess if I had to dig for faults in this record, I could say that it doesn't seem to have much variation, as far as song delivery goes . Then again, that's kind of the point. Maybe I'm just biased, in which case, I could honestly care less. I just can't even pretend to not love this record. If you're a breakdown junky, and are a fan of bands like Terror, Hatebreed, and "..And the Beat Goes On"-era Blacklisted, please check out this release. I know for a fact that you'll instantly agree with me.
Rating System
Thrash Magazine's overall rating system is based on the following criteria. Reign Supreme received a 9.2 because of the following:
Instrumental Rating (1-30): 27
Vocal Rating (1-30): 28
Lyrical Rating (1-25): 23
Presentation Rating (1-15): 14