Built On Blood come from Canada's own "Steel City" of Hamilton, Ontario. To anyone outside of Canada, maybe even outside of Ontario, this may not mean much. To an Ontario Hardcore fan, this means more than you'd understand.
Hamilton’s “Steel City” hardcore scene has been putting out nothing but top notch music since the revival of live performances post COVID-19. That being said, Built On Blood are helping carry this revival and more on their debut EP Life Sentence. Trying to make a statement with this first record, let it be known that this is yet another record which was recorded, mixed, and mastered by the lovely Andy Dmytryshyn (School House Studios/Reality Denied). Hardcore is clearly far from dead in the Great North and Built On Blood has an entire scene of support in their already in their corner, making sure it’s more than known.
First on the docket, we open on the short yet sturdy track, ‘Built on Blood’. A fifty-one second opener, fitting of any beatdown/hardcore album or EP. Listeners are met with an absolutely primal drum and bass combination by the talented Christian Petruccelli and Kohle Bird. Not long after, guitarist Josh Agnoletto brings forth the most stink-face inducing riff to open a record with. However, vocalist Bradly Tate truly brings this track to life. About nineteen seconds in Tate makes their presence known as the music pausing abruptly, allowing enough space for Tate to drop possibly the hardest name drop of 2023. Chaos ensues thereafter with the band smashing back in with the most bone crushing breakdown, closing out the track.
‘Built On Blood’ rings out with feedback that manages to blend with track two perfectly as if the entire EP was recorded in one solid take. Titled ‘625′, this two minute bombardment of a track is full of catchy two step with equally as crushing crowdkill bits weaved into the mix. What feels like Kublai Khan with a hint of Varials, Built On Blood managed to take this style, give it the Steel City makeover and more. With that in mind, this Hamilton foursome close out the song with a boom. Beastly vocals welcome the closing breakdown before down-tuned guitars come together with the nastiest snare work to grace the kit this year; arguably ‘625′ might be the hardest things to come out of Ontario Hardcore in a hot minute.
Don’t let that be where this record ends for you though as there are still two more equally ignorant and hard tracks after ‘625′. Leaning more into the beatdown side of their style with the title track of the EP, Agnoletto and Petruccelli open this one in a Spite-esque way. Tremolo picking and satisfying ride bells lead the way before Tate brings everyone in the best way they know how. Utilizing their vocal preference perfectly, Tate blends hip-hop styling with their blatant “in your face” hardcore performance. This approach not only gives listeners the perfect example of what Built On Blood are about; it sets listeners up for the perfect breakdown to compliment the ending of the track. Hard as nails are the lyrics spewed from the mouth of one Blaine Webster of Toronto’s very own Spirit Of Vengeance. The perfect collaboration on an almost flawless record, its fair to say the execution can be toted as equally as perfect as well.
As a treat for the Ontario Hardcore fans, Built On Blood was sweet enough to recruit not only SOV’s Blaine Webster, joining the team on the final track of the EP is Kyle Paterson of fellow Hamilton act Gavel and Bad Bet. To be fair, the collaboration only makes sense seeing how bassist Kohle Bird also plays alongside with Paterson as the bassist of Bad Bet as well. Quite the style change from Bad Bet though, ‘No Patience’ is an unrelenting beast of a closing track. Still present are the catchy yet punching down-tuned guitars and drum work slamming their way through the track. Eventually listeners get some satisfying blast-beat work while vocals are spit back and forth between Paterson and Tate. Without a build, the blasting closes and a breakdown instantly enters the room. Closing out on a strong note with a breakdown hard enough to rival the closer of ‘625’; track 4 is not only placed perfectly as the album closer but it would be fair to assume it’d make the perfect set closer as well. From track 1 all the way through to track 4, Life Sentence is an almost flawless record. Not only has it already brought a plethora of fans to the groups door, but it can also be toted as Hamilton, Ontario’s hardest record of the year.