Wasted Youth Brew

Album Review

Blood for Blood is the answer to much of the mainstream hardcore which society is more familiar with. Combining punk, hardcore, and metal, Wasted Youth Brew is a collection of Blood for Blood's rare and hard-to-find tracks, along with a live set. While some of the lyrical material may seem elementary or perhaps obscene with its lyrics of hate and alienation, Wasted Youth Brew is an album whose lyrical content is primarily focused toward the individuals who are on the fringes of society. On a compositional level, however, what Blood for Blood do, they do well. Erick Medina's throaty, rich vocals emphasize the material, making it all the more real and his pain even more legitimate. Nice, fat grooves and plenty of fast beats make this a great success for the band and more importantly for the fans of punk and hardcore. While perhaps not incredibly original, punk and hardcore have never been two genres known for their innovation, and thusly for their field, Blood for Blood grind their axes quite adeptly. The one glaring downside is that much of the live material seems unnecessary and pointless, thus voiding the importance of half the album. Nevertheless, Blood for Blood is a dark yet proficient hardcore punk act whose intentions are legitimate and whose music is successful on Wasted Youth Brew.