When it comes to metallic hardcore in the UK, the scene is rude health and then some. In recent years a plethora of bands have come aggressively stomping out of the underground from all four corners of the country and moshing their way to the top of the global scene. Located in the northern powerhouse of Manchester, Guilt Trip are one of these bands paving the way with this new, highly aggressive and gritty brand of UK hardcore alongside the likes of Malevolence and Heriot. Returning with their sophomore album Severance, a relentlessly bruising and skull splitting album packed with bludgeoning breakdowns as well as a few surprises that you wouldn’t expect.
The first thing you’ll notice is that the Manchester natives have evolved their sound to incorporate melody and more dynamic riffs alongside the implementation of higher quality production making Severance sound much more clinical, punchy and precise. In some ways it does feel like Guilt Trip have taken a page out of Malevolence’s playbook, especially in the latter half of the album where clean guitars and emotive melodies and clean vocals are used. While there may be an influence given the fact that Guilt Trip are signed to MLVLTD, the band have made significant strides to stand out from amongst their contemporaries.
There is an unbridled fury that exudes from the majority of this album. Guilt Trip do not hold back in unleashing a barrage of visceral aggression as they traverse through the spectrum of metal, hardcore and thrash. Fuelled by pure rage, throughout the course of this album you’ll find yourself scrunching your face and two stepping at alarmingly regular intervals as each riff and breakdown pummels your ear drums. Guilt Trip consistently build momentum and tension, which is then paid off with incredibly satisfying breakdowns or eruptions of groove laden chugged riffs.
When you look at the artwork that adorns the album’s cover, you get a feeling that this album is about vindication, self-empowerment, self-evolution and unwavering resilience. Tackling the more demonic emotions within you and the savage world around you, this is certainly a soundtrack for getting yourself hyped up and releasing your anger through controlled aggression. Accompanied by a furious passion to deliver truly ruthless music, Guilt Trip have levelled up significantly on Severance and the album could serve as a significant start point for a steep upward trajectory to the upper echelons of the scene locally and globally.
Ultimately the album is ruthlessly brutal and fast paced. With songs such as ‘Tearing Your Life Away’, ‘Sanctified’, ‘Eyes Wide Shut’, ‘Hell Will Replace The Rain’ and ‘Surrounded By Pain’ being perfect examples of this, you see that even though Guilt Trip have expanded their sound, they haven’t forgot their roots and the scene that spawned them. ‘Broken Wings’ is where we see a shift in the band’s sound, as they incorporate cleaner guitars and clean vocals, which adds an emotive dynamic to the album which is then expanded on with album closer ‘Dusk’. The acoustic album closer will surprise many with its subtle, gentle, acoustic melodies and heartfelt lyrics passionately sung by Jay Valentine. All the small glimpses throughout the album lead up to this track and it shows a different side to Guilt Trip that we haven’t seen before. However, it has to be said that it is an interesting way to close such a violent album reminiscent of the 2010 metalcore records.
Severance will undoubtably put Guilt Trip on more people’s radar and push them further into the upper echelons of the scene. Having already conquered Bloodstock and Hellfest it is easy to see why they are considered a premier UK hardcore export and Severance certainly backs up that claim.