Aggressive, dark and heavy. Those are three simple words that describe a classic hardcore disc best and luckily for This Is Hell, their follow up to the Sundowning is just that. This Long Island based five piece know how to get a mosh pit going and Misfortunes portrays that chaotic energy nicely on disc. From the second the crunchy guitars, thumping basslines, rapid fire drumming and tortured, venom dripping vocals kick in on Reckless, you know you’re in for quite a ride. The lyrics Travis Reilly growls are angry and dark but not to the point that they’re cheesy, plus they compliment the gang vocals spread out among the record nicely. Things don’t let up until the beginning of Realization:Remorse , a short song that slows things down for a second with a cool little riff before returning to the chaos and blending a little too well into Without Closure , another super fast track. Not everything is short and fast though. The final track Last Days Campaign clocks in over four minutes and gives listeners the best of both worlds. If you’re into hardcore and you still don’t know who This Is Hell is, get on it. 2008 isn’t over for awhile but chances are few other hardcore bands will be able to top Misfortunes because yes, that disc is just that good.

Like most bands that have arisen from the Long Island hardcore scene to achieve at least some level of mainstream success (From Autumn to Ashes, Taking Back Sunday, etc.), This Is Hell have a strained love/hate relationship with the scene that spawned them. This would seem surprising since the band is almost entirely comprised of ex-members of now-defunct - but still-beloved - local scene heroes Subterfuge and The Backup Plan, but inner-circle accusations that the band’s drive for success had placed their values and actions into question soured many on TIH. I’ve had my own misgivings about the band, but I never really thought their hearts were in the wrong place. The way I saw it, these guys had spent years languishing in local scene anonymity, and if they had finally decided to truly go for it, they had earned that right. No, my problem with TIH was simply that I felt their music has always lacked that certain spark that compels me to truly love a song or a band. The band played a nasty, savage form of hardcore that I liked well enough, but it never really grabbed me the way great music does. Also, singer Travis Reilly’s vocals were always delivered in a caterwauling yelp (since this is a review of a hardcore record, I’ll clarify that I’m not using those terms positively here) that I never much cared for. But with Misfortunes, it seems that TIH have finally found that spark. I was doubtful at first, since the record starts off with a rather plodding track that fails to get one excited for the rest of the record, and follows it with “Infected”, a track that would be more at home on one of their prior records as it whips around with an exciting reptilian quality, but never really goes anywhere. But finally, on the third track in, “Disciples”, you begin to hear how Misfortunes sets itself apart from the other TIH records. Here is a song that has true depth and momentum; that builds upon itself to create a structure with a beginning, middle and an end. In other words, it is a truly complete song with a quality of power that I’ve never heard from TIH before, and which continues throughout the record. Aside from that aforementioned uninspired pair of tracks, TIH maintains a high brand of quality throughout the record. This is not to say that every track sounds the same; “Without Closure” is a frenetic thrash song that is probably more fierce than anything else they’ve recorded; and on the closer “Last Days Campaign”, TIH creates a gloomy atmosphere by slowing and softening their usual dynamics. Speaking of gloomy, the entire record in general is probably their darkest yet, and darkness is a fitting tone for a band that sings about death, depression and other bleak aspects of life. Even a glance at the recording credits illustrate that TIH obviously paid closer attention to developing the quality of their sound with this release. The drums were recorded separately at Killingsworth Studios, a recording house that specializes in brutal metal. This style of recording gives the percussion work the crisp clarity and impact of futuristic machine-gun fire. The guitar work matches this sound with its own intense precision. Even my least favorite aspect of the band’s sound – the vocals – have improved on Misfortunes. The yowl of Reilly’s voice still borders on annoying at times, but he has done a much better job of beefing it up into a genuine, powerful scream, while simultaneously stripping it down to leave it raw and exposed, a vocal style that is perfectly suited for conveying the desperation that is a constant theme in the lyrics. If anything could finally squash the quagmire of scene-politics quibbling that TIH have found themselves in here on Long Island, it’s an undeniably great record – and that’s just what they’ve created with Misfortunes.

Looking at This Is Hell’s track record so far would make anything that the band put out in the future real easy to sell to anyone. For anyone playing the home game, so far they’ve already got a (no pun intended) hell of a debut album, a great split with another upcoming heavy-hitter called Cancer Bats and a pair of EPs that only further cement this band into the forefront of modern hardcore. And now, after two years This Is Hell has finally taken that next step forward with their new full-length, Misfortunes. But listener be warned: Anyone here expecting Sundowning Pt. 2 will be partially disappointed. This new record has got a few tweaks that makes it stand out sonically from everything else This Is Hell has done so far. For instance, all the vocals, guitar and bass were all recorded at Full Force Studios in New York while the drum tracking was done at a place called Killingsworth Recordings. They do mostly death metal albums, and they really helped give This Is Hell a more ominous atmosphere they were looking for. On Misfortunes, they definitely sound more raw, more aggressive and seemingly angrier than on anything before, and by now any remaining comparison to Give Up the Ghost has been left in the dust. Right away, the first track (“Reckless”) is a swift, straightforward punch to the gut that immediately grabs your attention and leads you into “Infected,” which you may remember from the Cripplers 7” of last year. It’s been re-recorded and sounds absolutely wonderful; Travis Reilly’s vocals coincide with the dark and moody tone of the album so well and his jagged voice fits every song perfectly. While it has the same number of tracks as Sundowning, Misfortunes runs at about ten minutes longer than its counterpart; you could attribute this to the next two songs, “Disciples” and “In Shambles,” which together fill up nearly ten minutes themselves. Despite defying one of the “rules” of hardcore and writing a rather lengthy song, This Is Hell kind of manage to pull it off well with “Disciples”'s underlying melodies and hooks (you won’t find too many on this record, though, so take advantage) and it also has a pretty rad breakdown (something that Sundowning lacked at some times) to boot. But putting the other long-player right after it can sometimes test your patience, especially if you want to hear what else there is to offer on the disc. My one qualm with Misfortunes is its repetitiveness. By the middle of the record, the tracks start to run together because of how the body of the songs all stick to a similar formula. There isn’t one song on the album that I can really pick on, but personally I usually found it hard to play the whole thing in one sitting. But if you want to try it, I suggest checking out other standouts like “You Are the Antithesis” (it’s got the best guitar work of any of their songs by far), “Resuscitate” (with a great steady rhythm and snarling bassline) and “Last Days Campaign” (a slow-churning shout-along and a powerful closer). This Is Hell only continues to improve themselves on every release they put out. They sound more massive than ever before and anyone still on the fence should take notice: This Is Hell is here to stay and they’ll make sure you know them whether you want to or not.

HARDCORE FURY: On 2006's Sundowning, Long Island hardcore crew This Is Hell delivered a record of passionate intensity that landed them a deserved position amongst the ranks of their peers such as Comeback Kid and The Hope Conspiracy. Misfortunes sees the band upping the ante in pretty much every department, every track seething with unrestrained ferocity and driven by lyrics that are as dark as the"Reckless" is two minutes of aggression that detonates into "Infected," the gang chorus of which is a riot in itself. "Disciples" and "End of an Era" is the band at their most melodic without in any way compromising the fury that pulses through the album, and the anthemic chorus of the formal literally demands a fist in the air response that only the foolhardy would even consider resisting. If you're put off by the genre conventions of hardcore, this may not be the record to change your mind, yet the exuberance and energy driving it are contagious and might just gain a few new adherents yet. And for those already in love with this kind of thrilling racket, Misfortunes will more than satisfy your cravings.

This Is Hell was a much hyped band almost from the get go thanks to an impressive debut EP. When the band released their Trustkill debut in 2006, Sundowning, it unfortunately wasn’t up to the standards that they had previously set. Now, after relentless touring (and some of their members taking the time to participate in the band Soldiers) This Is Hell is back with their highly anticipated sophomore release, Misfortunes. This album offers better hooks and even more in your face energy, putting this group closer to their goal of being one of the top hardcore acts out there. Vocalist Travis Reilly is arguably one of my favorite screamers currently out there, as his voice is extremely raw and has an unrivaled amount of energy. When he screams “I just want to live again” Reilly really gets the message across due to the sheer power he puts behind his screaming. The raw style of this may be a bit much for the mainstream listener who is used to the heavy yet clean metalcore meets emo screaming style, but anyone that has followed this genre for any period of time should appreciate what’s present here. Throughout the course of Misfortunes, it is clear that This Is Hell wants to get right to the point without creating and unneeded filler. Every song immediately assaults the listener with punchy and energetic riffs that are sure to get the floor moving when the band plays them in a live setting. But even in recorded form, it’s clear that the group has decided to focus on creating songs that will hook a listener in and not let them go until the release has come to its end. Their debut may have been slightly disappointing, but This Is Hell has clearly realized that and come back with better riffs and tighter instrumentals than ever before. Misfortunes is definitely an album that hardcore fans should have in their collections, as it offers up an addictive experience. And though I’m not sure if they can be declared the best of the best, This Is Hell is certainly on their way.

Hardcore is easy to do badly, but not so easy to do well. Thankfully, This Is Hell have taken their cue from the home town’s finest (Youth of Today, Glassjaw, and Most Precious Blood can all be heard in their sound), and concocted a defiantly modern-sounding hardcore album. That means speed, but not just for speeds sake. It means rage, but not just blind rage. Above all, it means a tight, focused and engaging record. That’s not to say this isn’t angry. Titles such as “You Are The Antithesis” and “Without Closure” point to an unsettled, restlessly intense set of lyrics. When you combine this with clinically precise drumming and jagged guitars, along with a keen sense of when to thrown in a beatdown or three, you get a formidable sophomore release. One of the best hardcore releases of recent time. Catch them when they tour the UK in April.

Vastly superior to their already-impressive Trustkill debut Sundowning, This Is Hell's sophomore opus finds the band delving further into the amalgamation of hardcore sub-genres with intense returns. This Is Hell are still held up by the backbone of Hatebreed and Sick Of It All-inspired New York hardcore, but they're now putting forth a face decorated with more vicious influences like Charles Bronson, Pulling Teeth and Nine Shocks Terror. This means Misfortunes assaults with borderline thrash-beats, anthemic chant-along choruses and gritty, screeching vocals. The tenacity of "Disciples," "End Of An Era" and "Reckless" prove the band are just as forceful as ever, yet they now have enough maturity and accomplishment under their belts to be slightly more experimental in terms of songwriting and overall approach by incorporating more dynamics and technicality. The end result is a masterpiece of aggressive crossover that injects fresh life into an otherwise static scene.

Coming off their well noticed first album "Sundowning," and after being called "2007 Strongest Band Of The Year" because of their strenuous touring, This Is Hell is back to hit us with their new album "Misfortunes." TIH has become a well known name in the hardcore game and so when I heard that they were writing for a new album, I had to see what these guys from NY were putting together as of late. Let me start off by saying that if you are a fan of their previous album, then you have nothing to worry about with this new incarnation. "Misfortunes" is as quick and pummeling as their early work (maybe even more). For others who aren't familiar with them, they resemble bands such as Modern Life Is War and Comeback Kid. Savage shouting vocals blitzkrieg their way into our ears with swift drums and shutter speed guitars, all of which combine into an impressive presence to hear. Through the rushed hardcore there are glimpses of clean metalcore melodies which make their harsh/hurried sound more appealing in large doses. After a while though you might find yourself a bit drained after being shouted at for 45 minutes in an unchanging tone, which can be annoying. But the shining sections of melody and pure energy of the band are what is truly great about this record. So fans of This Is Hell and hardcore lovers, this album is a buy and you should pick it up when it drops. For those on the fence, you might not be able to swallow the harsh hardcore and unshifting vocals. For me, the uncontrolled energy/guitars/live show of TIH is what I love in modern hardcore and so a few rough edges are easy to look past.

A little slice of hardcore heaven. The “1-2 fuck you” ethos of hardcore has been gently eschewed in recent times by certain bands who understand that sometimes concocting brooding, slowly unraveling bursts of rage serve a better impact. This Is Hell have been progressive participants in this movement for the past four years. On their second full-length, the band spend approximately 40 minutes charging through throbbing transgressions of hardcore’s rules while maintaining a straightforward and impressively intense delivery. Melodic undertones punctuate the band’s songs yet never give off a single corny moment, and subtle dynamics keep the listener compelled for a comparable marathon considering hardcore’s usual “time restrictions.” Musically, Misfortunes moves This Is Hell further away from the Give Up The Ghost comparisons dogging them since their inception, delievering further into a dark, massive sound more reminiscent of the Hope Conspiracy. Despite a lineup revamp between records, fans should welcome a sound that is more raw and aggressive then Sundowning. It’s that type of self-improvement and rugged hard work that prove This Is Hell are growing to not only be one of hardcore’s biggest, but best.

2006's storming Sundowning long-player had critics practically tripping over themselves in excitement to lay superlatives down at the feet of This Is Hell, and so expectations are sky high for the Long Islander's new Misfortunes opus. From the hammering riffs of bile-infested opening salvo 'Reckless' to the expansive guitars of closing number 'Last Days Campaign', it's great to report then that Misfortunes is never anything less than awesome. A record that somehow manages to more than live up to even the most optimistic hopes of fans. As with Sundowning, the band's sophomore full-length is an album that's likely to be even better in the live environment, played at a non-stop breakneck speed from start to finish, meaning that the Modern Life Is War comparisons that have been banded about in the past can be finally laid to rest, especially given shift in sound of the Iowan's recent Midnight In America offering. While it's fair to say that This Is Hell have made no great sonic strides or evolution with Misfortunes, this is no mere Sundowning Mark II, with the likes of 'Infected' and 'In Shambles' taking the band's relentless onslaught to their highest level yet. There's no doubting that This Is Hell have thrown down the gauntlet to their contemporaries here, as Misfortunes is an early claim for the best hardcore album that 2008 will have to offer. This is Hell? Nah, this is incredible.

Wanna play “which band would win in a fight”? I have a new trump card, bitches! Hey – d'you think most modern punk bands are pussies? Think the term “hardcore” has been misused and diluted beyond recognition? I think you might have a point, and I suspect This Is Hell might agree, too. Take a listen to Misfortunes - realise there's still a few bands out there that remember hardcore's furious roots. You know that you're not getting weak-arse pop-punk before you even put the disc in your player. Why don't more albums have vultures on the cover? Why don't more albums have song titles like “Realization: Remorse”, “Fearless Vampires” and “You Are The Antithesis”? Most albums don't have those things because the bands that make them aren't trying to channel the same degree of rage and disgust with the world that This Is Hell seem to pump through their veins in place of blood. These guys probably eat wire wool and razor wire for breakfast while reading the court proceedings in the local paper, just to get themselves properly pissed off enough to get to work on their music. And if you're sick of harmonised pop singers warbling over twiddly guitar parts, Misfortunes is the album you've been waiting for. Brutality is best transmitted by simplicity; simple breeze-block heavy chord progressions and staccato sections alternate between beat-down slo-mo and road-drill snare attacks from the drums, while Travis Reilly shrieks his larynx to shreds in unbridled rage with occasional assistance from massed shout-along parade-ground call-response choruses. This is about as authentically nasty and aggressive as the New York hardcore style could get without becoming something else entirely – these guys make the old guard sound like tired old men with a bit of a grouch obsession. In an era when the label “punk” gets stuck on every kid with a guitar, daft haircut and a few tattoos, This Is Hell are keeping the faith. Misfortunes is a testament, a manifesto and a battle cry - all rolled into one. Now put up, or shut up.

So it just seems like yesterday that upstart Long Island hardcore act This Is Hell released their Trustkill debut, Sundowning. The quintet (consisting of former members from Subterfuge, Scraps And Heart Attacks and The Backup Plan) caught our attention with two blistering EP’s. TIH lost some steam with Sundowning, which offered mix results, a handful of forgettable tracks and a handful of great tracks (Permanence comes to mind). But consistent touring and hard work has created a very nice following, and somehow TIH found time to record and release Misfortunes, their second album for Trustkill. And let me tell you, the latest offering from these Long Island heroes makes Sundowning sound like the latest James Blunt album. What you should take from Misfortunes is that from beginning to end, it is consistently kicking ass and taking names. Vocalist Travis Reilly takes no prisoners, as his vox just shred throughout the album; the perfect complement to the incessant pounding of Dan Bourke’s drumming and the never-say-die attitude of guitarists Chris Reynolds and Rick Jimenez. It’s raw, it’s fast, and it packs a punch not many albums this year will be able to match. You know you’re in for a hell of a ride as soon as “Reckless” blasts through your speakers. A faint guitar screech leads into a reckless abandonment of structure as This Is Hell drops you like you’re Jesse Metcalfe. The majority of tracks like “Infected,” “Fearless Vampires,” and “Without Closure” are short and sweet. They get to the point and leave you begging for more. Thankfully, “Disciples” and “Remnants” do just that. Bourke’s work behind the kit paces the buzzsaw attack from Reynolds and Jimenez, while Johnny Moore’s lively bass gives each track some backbone. But This Is Hell begins and ends with Reilly’s bark. Passion, intensity, and anguish bleed from his vocals and give each track its personality. Easily one of the best front men in the entire scene today, he rips through tracks like the bombastic “In Shambles” and the anthemic “You Are The Antithesis.” Misfortunes ends dramatically with “Last Days Campaign,” which begins with a slow and somber guitar strums and drumming, with Reilly distantly screaming as it picks up into a battle cry of a track, dripping with emotion. While the good majority of the AbsolutePunk.net community is not into hardcore, I highly encourage Misfortunes to all. It’s everything you love about music: it’s honest, in your face, and doesn’t give a damn. Any questions fans may have had after Sundowning have been forcefully answered with Misfortunes. Do yourself a great favor and pick up Misfortunes, as it promises to be one of the essential hardcore records of 2008.

The short review, if I was to write one, would say: This record is fucking great. The longer review, which i will now attempt to convey, will say exactly the same thing but in a manner which is a little less blunt. Building on the positive reviews the last record received, 'Misfortunes' will surely cement This Is Hell's place in the hardcore elite. It's a raucous album, one marked with battle scars and a record which is as pasionate as it is honest. Hardcore, to me, is a genre which is often maligned because bands tend to borrow too much from their influences, but This Is Hell manage to forge their own sound. And this is the major reason why this record is so good. There aren't really any bad tracks here, to be honest. Travis Reilly's vocals shriek and shred throughout, raising the energy levels and acting as the perfect buffer between the machine gun drums and the beefed up guitar riffs. 'Infected' and 'In Shambles' are pick of the bunch, but truth be told this is a very good all rounder.

This is Hell has long been one of my favorite hardcore bands, alongside the likes of American Nightmare, Blacklisted, Dead Hearts, Modern Life is War, etc. When you want to listen to a band that just has intensity pouring out from every angle, you've got to turn to This is Hell. Formed only a few years ago by members of Scraps and Heart Attacks and The Backup Plan, This is Hell is five dudes from Long Island, NY who pull no punches and have some of the most honest lyrics that I've ever heard. On their EP, singer Travis Reilly has a line in a song that says "Apologies to my friends and family for my songs ending up this way. Each word, each line, just a fragment of whatever it is that I was trying to say. If you get one parting gift it's that I carry memories like a bag of bricks." That's pretty much par for the course with all of his lyrics across the board. One thing I will say about Misfortunes that they probably picked one of the weaker songs to start the album off with. While "Reckless" isn't a bad jam, it isn't the strongest one on the album and I've always been a believer of putting your best foot forward. But after you get through with that song you segue immediately into "Infected," a song that they debuted on their Cripplers 7″. It's textbook This is Hell; pissed, fast, and brutal. In fact if I had to choose three words to describe the whole album, that would be it: pissed, fast and brutal. Some of the surprises on the album were tracks like "Remnants," that had some pretty well developed melodies in them. While they've always been great musicians, they've generally stuck to a pattern for their songs but with Misfortunes, they definitely seem to be thinking outside of the box. You wouldn't expect a lot of the curveballs that they throw you with this record. That's why you have to appreciate them; it's everything you know and love about them while at the same time being a fresh new sound. You can look for variations of all kinds on this record, some heavier chunks, some more melodic chunks, some faster parts, and even though Reilly's lyrics have always been among the best in the genre, even better lyrics. If you've been into This is Hell since the demo, you've seen them grow in a lot of ways, both in the writing process and in the studio. I think it's pretty safe to say that Misfortunes sounds like the album they've spent the most time producing, which is a blessing and a curse to TiH fans. A lot of kids loved the rawness of their first two records (the demo and the EP) but you can't deny that they hit a whole new level with Sundowning and have risen above and beyond that with their newest effort. For highlight tracks, check out: "Remnants," "You Are the Anti-Thesis," and "Disciples." But I will tell the truth, I'm an unabashed fan of this band, I've loved everything they've done to this point in time and the new album is no different. Misfortunes should easily be up for any magazine's top hardcore albums of the year.

This CD is only really hell if you don’t like your hardcore fast, faster, then faster again. However most Terrorizer readers feel some sort of need for speed, so it’s a safe bet that few will complain about the relentless tempo of this Long Island band’s follow-up to their “Sundowning” debut. Another thing we all tend to agree on is intensity… oh, and hard-edged vocals as well, and This Is Hell have both – in abundance. Songs like “With Closure” and “Resuscitate” will have them bouncing off the walls when these guys hit the road, sounding like the essence of early Revelation hardcore distilled to its logical conclusion. Thing is though, This Is Hell can also do the melodic thing as well, introducing plenty of somber guitar harmonies to help flesh out all the thrashing and gnashing of bared teeth. This is what happens when the youth crew grow up, master their instruments and get some decent money to spend in the studio: all hell breaks loose.

This Is Hell embody everything that makes their scene and the music that comes from it unique. “Misfortunes” has the hammering snare drum, the driving guitar work, the hoarse vocal line, the maddening directness and unhinged fury that are only ever present in the most intense, passionate and true hardcore. The record is loaded with highlights; “In Shambles” rages uncontrollably, “Without Closure” is chaos and “You Are The Antithesis” is a finger-pointing anthem without equal. The only potential weakness of the record is that it doesn’t stray far from the template the band established with their debut “Sundowning”. This Is Hell have certainly not created something experimental or expansive like Modern Life Is War’s “Midnight In America” or Give Up The Ghost’s “We’re Down Til We’re Underground”, but they know what they’re doing and they know what they’re good at. “Misfortunes” is a record built to be played live; you can hear the sweat and the sing-alongs, you can see the circle pits and the chaos on the dancefloor and you can feel the adrenaline pulse as each and every track kicks in and breaks down. For me, this is heaven.