Last month, New York City’s Toxic State Records released their slate of releases for Winter/Spring 2025, and needless to say, It’s an absolutely stacked lineup. With new material on the way from some of the best bands currently doing it including HARAM, ABIZM, and PURE TERROR, there’s plenty to look forward to in the first half of the year.
Starting things off strong (and available as of this writing) is HEADSPLITTERS’ new LP “Curse Of Life”, a ten song crusher that finds the band in great form. Over the course of their two 7”s and first LP, the Brooklyn-based group have fine tuned their brand of hardcore into a style that takes D-Beat Käng fury and mixes in a healthy dose of Crossover/Thrash. It’s done seamlessly and creates a full and filled out sound that’s sometimes metal but always punk as fuck.
On opening track “Onslaught For Peace”, the band bursts out of the gate with whirlwind guitar, dizzying drums and bass, and excellently rough vocals from singer and guitarist Ramos, whose vocal style reminds me Ryan Tong from S.H.I.T. (which is the highest of compliments). Second track “Tear It Down” maintains the speedy pace and features a quick head-banging moment before some gang vocals wrap things up, while “Horrific Truth” employs some mid-paced moments to temper its speed.
Next is “Borrowed Time”, a catchy UK82-style ripper and album highlight that really showcases each member’s strengths. In particular, bassist Cedric absolutely smokes here; if ever there were such a thing as a “lead” bass playing, this is it. Alongside drummer Aaron’s breakneck speed and Ramos’ searing guitar work, it’s easy to see why a second guitarist isn’t necessary. “Die Slow” wraps up Side-A with more burly thrash and a surprisingly plucky and surfy guitar lead, another unique and unexpected touch.
Side-B opens with one of the albums more metallic moments with “Suffocation”’s stank face inducing mid-tempo riffing. “World Order” showcases some gnarly drum rolls while “Pushing My Luck”’s ominous bass-lead intro lumbers into full crossover mode before, you guessed it, the D-Beat once again rears its head.
“Image” is another straight punk speedball with cool galloping drums that takes us into closer “Game Of Suffering”, a 3:40 second powerhouse that would be the perfect song to play for someone new to HEADSPLITTERS. The riff is catchy, the vocals are mean as hell, and the rhythm section is perfectly in step. The track wraps up with one more righteous guitar solo and some ghoulish disembodied howls while fading out, making for a perfectly metal ending to this punk as fuck record.
HEADSPLITTERS’ have a total winner on their hands with “Curse Of Life”; a must-have record for punks, metalheads, and everybody in between.
Stream the album now and pick up a copy of here.
