It is strange to think it is now 20 years since Freya burst onto the scene with ‘As The Light Drains’, but now they are back with their seventh full-length album, the first since 2016. Only singer Karl Buechner is still there from those early days, but Erick Edwards (guitar), Thom Turner (guitar), Ed Ordez (bass), and Ethan D Henry (drums) are here to ensure the story is kept alive and the legacy keeps building. If that is not enough to get hardcore fans salivating then the inclusion of three guests who each add their distinctive styles to a song each will be. Freddy Cricien (Madball) is definitely putting himself out there at the moment, guesting with bands he feels worthy and he has been joined this time by Jamey Jasta (Hatebreed) and Scott Vogel (Terror). Three members of hardcore royalty adding their seal of approval to this 11-song set which comes in at 28 minutes.

When it comes to metallic hardcore Freya have quite some reputation, but it is when they speed it up where they really come alive as slower numbers such as “Beyond Despair” can be quite sluggish, but when they up the hardcore element as on “Omens” they really come alive. If one removes Karl’s hardcore approach to vocals and listen just to the music then one realises that even when they are powering through they are way more metallic than hardcore, it is often the vocals which move them more in one direction than the other. The guitars are linked as one, while the bass often sits in right behind, providing a deeper harmony, while the drums often follow a more traditional approach. This is a solid release, and let us hope we do not have to wait seven years until the next one.

Rating: 7/10

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/freyahardcore
https://www.upstaterecordsny.com/