The Godfathers Of New York Hardcore Return

Sick of it All: purvevors of the finest New York hardcore for nearly 30 years are back in the UK once again to show everyone they don't get old, they get better.

Sick of it All @ Classic Grand, Glasgow - 04/02/2015

After nearly three decades of existance you could forgive a band for wanting to take it easy, slow things down or even retire.  Thankfully that's not the case for New York's finest hardcore band.  After eleven studio albums and countless years on the road, Sick of it All are still at it, delivering mighty slabs of intelligent, aggressive music backed up by relentless touring.

They're in town just now in support of the latest album, The Last Act of Defiance.  Another fine effort that as usual combines intelligent lyrics that actually make you think and a bludgeoning musical assault that makes you want to destroy everything.  Tonight's show is rather special in that there's no barricade down the front allowing the crowd to get up close and personal with the band and of course stage dive like their lives depend on it.

"Good Lookin' Out", "Sound the Alarm" and "Clobberin' Time" open proceedings like a hammer to the face, while "Death or Jail", "Take the Night Off" and "DNC" are enhanced by several hundred additional vocalists.  "Sanctuary" is dedicated to a fan who announces from the stage that he's just found out he's going to be a Dad and Lou Koller even offers some reassuring words: "Don't worry, they practically raise themselves."

Considering they've been in existence for almost as long as I've been on this Earth, it's refreshing to see the band are still genuinely having the time of their lives on stage rather than just going through the motions.  "Step Down" gets one of the biggest receptions of the night  and no SOIA gig would be complete without the all time classic "Scratch the Surface".  Throats are damaged, heads are banged and crowds are surfed.

Once the house lights come on the band hangs about to ensure that everyone who wants to shake a hand, have a chat or get a photo go away happy.  New York hardcore lives inside us all and Sick of it All remain one of the very best live bands on the planet.

Sick of it All are due back in Europe in April. Horns up to Nina Pothoff @ The Noise Cartel. To visit the Sick of It All website
click here.  Words by Stuart Patterson

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