Reign Supreme - Testing the Limits of Infinite
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Philadelphia’s Reign Supreme takes its cues from hardcore forebears who borrowed from metal: Hatebreed, Madball, Cro-Mags, and Agnostic Front. The blurring of lines between genres resulted in legions of reprehensible bands. Yet Reign Supreme stands out due to a firm (though formerly limited) command of the music and an above-average frontman.
Thanks to Will Putney’s production and an embrace of dynamics, Reign Supreme’s debut full-length (Deathwish, Inc., 2009) is a heavy, speaker-exploding thrill. Nearly every song includes half-time moshes and charging metallic attacks. While once declaring itself a generic hardcore band, Reign Supreme here boasts better songwriting and stronger performances. Mike Doto delivers cement-solid riffs, while Klint Kanopka and Joe Vergara’s rhythm section wraps them in a tight grip. Meanwhile, Jay Pepito’s roars blend religious overtones with Jamey Jasta-esque self-affirmations.
This album uses the elements that made Hatebreed’s Perseverance a landmark: simple sing-alongs, self-help lyrics, mosh-inducing breakdowns, and enough dynamics to make the material interesting. Dissonant and melody akin to Quicksand is seeping into the band’s sound, which is most apparent in “Saving Grace.” “Waiting,” a welcome instrumental, gives the album a breather from the constant assault. With more such unique takes on the form, Reign Supreme could grow beyond the hardcore ghetto.
Buy:
Amazon (CD)
Amazon (MP3)
eMusic (MP3)
Interpunk (CD, LP)
Deathwish, Inc. (CD, LP)
