Axis is releasing Show Your Greed today, which will become the definitive hardcore record of 2015. If you haven’t heard of them yet, now might be a good time to get familiar. The quintet hails from Central Florida and they’ve only gotten angrier and heavier with age
The current lineup began around 2012, which includes vocalist Rafael Morales, guitarists Patrick Chumley and Dylan Downey, bassist Tyler Forsythe, and drummer Tommy Cantwell. Axis has existed before this lineup came about, and they’ve always been revered for their raw, antagonistic sound, but they have truly blossomed with this release and lineup.
As I say, I’ve always been a big fan of Axis. I can’t remember the first time I saw them, but I’ve always been impressed by their music. I remember in 2013 when they put out a split via Harm Reduction Records with Self Defense Family. I ordered the seven inch as soon as it went up for pre-order and the day it came to my door, I put it on the record player and it began to spin. “Eradicate” poured out of the speakers and I was just blown away. Now two years later, I’m listening to the same the song, re-titled “Burn,” and I am still somehow blown away.
I was particularly intrigued by this change, so I made it a point to speak with Downey on this issue amongst others. “We weren’t totally in love with the name we originally gave it,” he said. “We re-recorded it because it fit in well with the other songs and it gave us an even ten. I don’t know what we would’ve done if we had a nine song record, it would’ve driven us crazy.”
Axis is a band that has grown and improved on an already perfect tone, but they’ve definitely had some help along the way. Show Your Greed was written over a relatively moderate amount of time, recorded at an undisclosed location in South Florida, mixed by Taylor Young of The Pit, and mastered by Brad Boatwright of Audiosiege.
Tracks like “Transgression” and “Badgelicker” (Seriously, what an apt title for a song, considering this day and age we’re living in) will literally make you want to destroy everything in the near vicinity. I mean, how could you not with lyrics like “Primitive men with guns in their hands, searching for safety in the gut of every man.”? This track is one of my personal favorites, because it has Atlanta superstar Ben Jordan of Antpile doing guest vocals and his voice blows me away. I know I keep saying that, but give Show Your Greed one spin through and you’ll understand why I say that.
Show Your Greed is out today and you can buy it here. While you’re on Goodfight’s site, make sure to check out some of the other incredible bands on there, like Of Feather and Bone, Hollow Earth, and Old Wounds. It’s a fantastic label and Downey is excited to be a part of it. “All of our friends are on this label and they’ve handled putting this record out so well.”
Rating: 4.9/5