Truth In Needles – “Turning Gray Black”
We recently caught another great New York hardcore band, Truth In Needles, at the Midway. I know, I know- it’s like a broken record where the needle gets stuck repeating the same line. But I swear I didn’t know where this band was from until I mentioned them to Andy, “These guys are really good.” “Yeah, I agree,” he said, “They’re from New York,” which caused me to laugh and reply, “Well, of course!”
The New York bands definitely have that hard, intense feel to them, almost metal-ish at times. And I would say bands we cover that are from other areas and fall nicely under this style are The Enemy Within from Boston, Reason To Fight from Rhode Island and M-13 from Connecticut.
And though I might prefer the traditional punk or skate punk over this style, I like all styles of punk and this one is certainly potent. But I know Andy would choose the heavy hardcore as his style of choice.
They’re from Long Island like our beloved Live Fast, Die Fast and have been around since 2004. They list influences like Sick Of It All and Agnostic Front but also add Pantera and Megadeath as well.
But what really matters is the final product. Let’s strap on our safety belts and prepare to listen to some intense, aggressive hardcore.
“All Bets Are Off” when T.I.N. comes roaring out of the gate, not in a full speed throttle but with a guitar lick that simultaneously makes me think of vintage Iggy & The Stooges and a headbanging metal band that Andy would have to name. This song chugs and grooves like a classic old car out for a Friday night joy ride. At one point the drums and guitars decide to pummel our ears to smithereens before returning to the hard groove. I’ll bet any money that you’ll think this song is great.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/01-All Bets Are Off.mp3|titles=All Bets Are Off]
“Living with a bullet/ it stays inside me/ it’s a reminder / of the evil in me.” I could be wrong but I think this is a song about a guy who’s been shot and lived, but they can’t remove the bullet for medical reasons. Not sure of the meaning but I’m sure that this song combines in-your-face vocals with in-your- guts rhythm and a great, slashing guitar riff that swoops in between the lines. In the middle we have an almost boogie blues beat that suggest what ZZ Top might sound like if they went death metal. The intense, emotional vocals come back in to lead the band in a rhythmically staccato crescendo. But wait!- vocals and chugging bass arrive to escort this song peacefully out of the club.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/08-Living with a Bullet.mp3|titles=Living with a Bullet]
Try to “Keep Me Down” increases the speed if not the peace as the venomous vocals like vipers reach out to grasp you in its vice-lock grip. It could be about your stomach intakes threat after having too much beer but I think not. More likely it’s about the forces of society using their poisonous fangs to suck the living life out of all of us. This song pushes and punches its way through, annihilating your eardrums, guts, spines and organs to be named later in one unbelievable onslaught crush.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/11-Keep Me Down.mp3|titles=Keep Me Down]
“Postcard” is my favorite song on the album. And though this album has many fine, heavy, slower hardcore tunes this song is pure amphetamine rush, alcohol fueled, ’77 punk. And for me to compare this song to that means I think it’s true gold. Right from the first beat the instruments express pure, thrashing energy while the vocals are moved briskly along until a litany of “Fuck You’s” explodes with true righteous passion. There’s a little bit of a breakdown in the middle to remind me I’m not in ’77 anymore. But the guitar on this song is fucking amazing and as the moments of the year 2013 are ticking away…Holiday Greetings from Slimedog and fuck you if you don’t believe me that I think this is the best song I’ve heard all year.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/12-Postcard.mp3|titles=Postcard]
New York is a great city. I think, along with San Francisco, they’re the most fun cities to visit in America. I was in New York City less than a month after 9/11 on my honeymoon and I realized what a great city it truly was and how friendly the people were- more helpful and less racist then where I’m from. The nightlife was great but I could see their recent pain, but I could also see the form-ability.
But if you want to talk punk community- Boston is a lot like New York is a lot like Providence is a lot like Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Vermont, Bangor Maine.
We are all east coast punks. Almost each and everyone reading this. Which means we’re closer than our differences, that our community stands as one.
New York is a great city and Truth In Needles is a great band. The punk community is the best and if you listened to the songs there’s nothing else to add.
(Slimedog)
