Chicago has always had a rich and diverse music scene, rising and falling in stride over the years with the success of some and the failure of others. The country’s third largest city defining it’s scenes by region, broken down by neighborhoods and venues. The North Side could be a city all its own in regional comparison to the industrialized neighborhoods of the South Side. Eclectic West Side neighborhoods sit wedged between the two offering a neutral zone to the sometimes feuding territories.
Somewhere in the midst of this grand activity is a
quite momentum slowly building in a force know as the The Ox King. A five-piece
wrecking machine with a name that pays homage
to the working class ethics of Chicago itself - outputting an energy you
can’t quite wrap your head around - perfecting its craft in a Garfield Park
rehearsal space and showcasing its style around town for almost two years now.
The Ox King take Chicago hardcore to a fresh new place haven’t heard in the
region since the likes of the The Killer and more recently, in bands like Harm’s
Way and No Zodiac.
This self-titled debut was released late in December
of 2012 and has been receiving positive attention ever since. A 7-track juggernaut
clocking in at a little over 30 minutes, captured and preserved impeccably by
Pete Grossman at Bricktop Recording in Chicago’s Pilson neighborhood. The
selection of recording studio was a wise decision in itself. Bricktop has
recorded bands for some of the more noteworthy labels in punk and hardcore.
This record is hard and emotional. It’s heavy and
fast. Post-production effects and samples add to the somber mood, creating an ominous,
almost post-apocalyptic final product. A thorough record that covers a lot of
ground that progresses and experiments without straying too far from a traditional
hardcore ethos and style.
Dave Klingenberg delivers his socio-frustrated
lyrics with urgency and his words come through surprisingly clear underneath
his guttural vocal style. He tackles his content with a sense of fearlessness
and pride. The subject matter is dark and moody, expressing the frustration of
daily living and surviving in the chaos that is the 21st century. The
dueling guitar work of Kurt Collins and Brian Mulholland play off each other seamlessly,
breaking in and out of three chord structures and complex rhythms, toying with
shrieking effects on high notes and heavy distortions. Jeff Geiser (recently replaced by Blake Dinwiddie) fills in
the spaces on bass where the spaces need to be filled, thickening an already enriched
sound. The drumming of Jake Smith (recently replaced by Ryan Steigerwald) keeps the momentum moving in a forward
motion ensuring that this train stays on the tracks. A collective effort by
five talented musicians with an indisputable passion for what they do.
I can’t help but feel the atmosphere of Chicago all over
this record. The cold winters. The blistering heat of summer. The frustration
of a city plagued with social, racial, and economic challenges. The political corruption and turmoil. This is a hard
record for hard people in a tough town facing tough times. A soundtrack, if you
will, for the jaded who play hard and work harder – who keep moving forward
despite the obstacles put in front of them. This is a record for a people who stand
their ground and speak their mind and are proud to tell you where they’re from.
– “This much I know.”
Release Date: 12.21.2012
Recorded and mixed by Pete Grossman @ Bricktop Recording/ Chicago, IL
For fans of: Converge, Integrity, The Killer, Harms Way, No Zodiac, Tragedy