Integrity - Hookedlungstolenbreathcunt (1994)Release ID: 1775
This compilation is basically an extended version of Integrity's debut Those Who Fear Tomorrow, with the additional tracks being the In Contrast of Sin EP (an extension of the 1989 Harder They Fall demo), the tracks recorded in 1992 but released 20 years later as The Araca Sessions in memory of their late drummer David Araca (RIP), one sneak peek at their next album System Overload, and a bonus Negative Approach cover. The extra tracks aren't as crushing as the debut, but still good metallic hardcore.
So getting into the songs from the In Contrast of Sin EP right away, "Live It Down" can be considered the earliest metalcore song if we exclude Rorschach's material. I like that! "In Contrast of Sin" is another very early example of what would remind you of more hardcore bands like Nails. It's tough, fast, and the vicious vocals have a lot worth shouting along to. The rhythm pounds like a hammer through your head. "Bringing It Back" brings back some of the hardcore while mixing it with metal. For "Dead Wrong", anyone who thought Integrity wouldn't succeed at this awesome mix they helped create would be DEAD WRONG! "Harder They Fall" punches the floor like a motherf***er.
The debut begins with a short ambient intro, "Den of Iniquity", a hint at Dwid's later ambient noise part of his career. Despite that intro, you already what's coming for you in hardcore... Dwid makes an unforgettable shout of "MICHA!!!" that kick-starts the title track. This was an important part of 90s hardcore, already signifying the metalcore vision of Earth Crisis and Hatebreed, even Killswitch Engage. "Die Hard" sounds more desperate. This would fit well in the one of the first couple Die Hard movies. However, the scenario the vocal cries creates for me is a crazy caveman fight against feral wolves. The lyrics ring through psychotic guilt. "Lundgren/Crucifixion" is another fast hitter. Lyrically, "Judgement Day" would carry their attitude torch to modern bands to Terror. That song would've had potential in Terminator 2: Judgement Day, from the same year.
"Descent Into" nicely sets things up before something perfectly righteous... The immediate "Darkness" is probably my favorite track here, blowing your mind with despair for a solid 3 minutes! This is the right theme for those with thoughts of the world's insanity. This would've probably helped me during a sh*tty time back in my teen years, but back then I was into power metal, and that was good enough for me. "Tempest" is a song worth listening to appreciate what bands like Misery Signals wouldn't exist without. Later on, the album would have apocalyptic themes of love and evil, and that's apparent in "Dawn of a New Apocalypse".
"Wings Tear" would continue the metallic hardcore sound Skycamefalling would have 10 years later. "Candra Nama Vijayasya Stri Pums' Calayasti" is a short interlude with a strange name. "Apollyon's Whisper" follows as another short hardcore track. "March of the Damned" ends the album with some final twists of desperation. I don't know if it would end upwards and downwards, but I guess any direction they go.
"Kingdom of Heaven" begins The Araca Sessions by showing how slightly different their sound is while still in the early 90s. "Rebirth" has their classic thrashy metallic hardcore going on, pushing their 80s metal influences further yet again, with dissonant distortion in hardcore progression. "Eighteen" is out of place compared to the rest, sounding softer like Alice in Chains at that time. It's the Meshuggah "Ritual" of Integrity! The first of two bonus tracks, "Jimson Isolation" is a sneak peek to their next album System Overload, and has a nice Danzig/Sabbath influence in the pace. Finally, the bonus Negative Approach cover "Evacuate" closes the compilation smoothly.
Hookedlung isn't the best metalcore compilation I've heard, but it's pretty great. I would recommend this only to die-hard Integrity fans. And if you early 90s metalcore is your game, this could get you hooked....
Favorites: "Live It Down", "Dead Wrong", "Harder They Fall", "Micha: Those Who Fear Tomorrow", "Die Hard", "Judgement Day", "Darkness", "Dawn of a New Apocalypse", "March of the Damned", "Kingdom of Heaven", "Rebirth", "Jimson Isolation"
