For more than two decades, NY hardcore heavyweights Pro-Pain released an album for almost every former member of the band. With fourteen total full length albums, not counting lives comps and EPs, they are one of the most prolific B-level bands of the past twenty years. Their evolution of those years has not actually happened… this to their credit. Their formula worked for core fans and they are one of the bands that many see as a totem in the midst of a hardcore scene that aimlessly wanders unless Hatebreed is releasing another record. This works in their favor, knowing exactly what kind of standup riff rock you will get without even hearing the album comes in handy when trying to explain them to a new audience.
Fans of the hardcore genre point Pro-Pain as a success story, being able to create punchy bro-rock that makes you want to smash faces became less common in the last decade, but they have made it work for them somehow. You won’t have to work to figure out what kind of melody, structure or style they are working in: you can focus on the chant choruses and bouncy breakdowns to beat up your friend in the pit with. The lyrical themes on The Final Revolution are traditional hardcore, empowerment, standing up, rising above, but adding a twist of anti-establishment rhetoric to the mix throwing back to the old days of mid 80s hardcore themes, nothing out of the ordinary for the band.
Not to rip on them too much, a band who owns their identity and plays to their audience is admirable in this day and age, too many struggle to find themselves and reach new people, Pro-Pain does what they do and they do it pretty well. A short to the point album of twelve crunchy songs that you can sing with after one time through perfectly reflects their role in metal, writing simple heavy rock songs that everyone can bounce to, mission accomplished.
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