Album Review: Your Demise - The Kids We Used To Be

‘The Kids We Used To Be’ is the first recording with new vocalist Ed McRae, but it is still unequivocally and unmistakeably Your Demise. The Centurion vocalist is easier to listen to than George Noble ever was, and it does the band no end of good. This is a hardcore-punk assault on your ears, and you’ll love every minute of it.

‘MMX’ begins with McRae barking out “Your Demise 2010, Bitch” which immediately establishes this is new ground for the band. They are back, and they are better than ever. This track is pretty much two fingers up to the world, and the fans will lap it up. This carries on into ‘Miles Away’, with the chant of “fuck the world”, accompanied by the furious guitar and unrelenting drums we are so used to hearing. This track is hardcore at it’s best.

In a change of pace for the band, ‘Life of Luxury’ is slower to start, and features some clean vocals. It’s refreshing to hear and suits the lyrics perfectly. One of their more inspired and brilliant tracks, it’s more mainstream than you would expect from the St. Albans lads. However, ‘Teenage Lust’ is soon back to the bands old tricks, with predictable breakdowns and unoriginal hardcore beats.

The title track ‘The Kids We Used To Be’ is a bit disappointing. The clean vocals are back, but Your Demise seem to have been so intent on creating an anthemic chorus that they’ve forgotten to sort out the verses. And the less said about ‘Get The Fuck Out Of Little Rock’ the better. Every band needs album fillers, and I guess these two tracks are theirs.

‘Shine On’ is another meaty song you can really get your teeth into. Brutal screams and punk influenced breakdowns galore. ‘Give Up, Get Dropped, Lose Out’ features a much more original drumbeat than in any other previous tracks, and pulls away from the hardcore stereotype. The gang vocals work well and really add power to this track. Yet another stonker of a song from the five-piece. The final track on the album is the fantasic ‘XO’. Lo-and-behold, it’s yet another intense song, and shows no sign of winding down the album gently. Despite the clichéd lyrics and slight repetitiveness, it’s a good track to end on, and wraps up the album nicely.

‘The Kids We Used To Be’ is basically your typical Your Demise, minus the cocky lead singer. They aren’t quite as controversial as they used to be, but this allows more focus on the music and will ultimately work in their favour. They’ve definitely grown up since the last album and this is reflected in their more refined style and lyrics. A note to all those who previously hated this band, give this album a go; it might just change your mind.

4/5

'The Kids We Used To Be' by Your Demise is available now on Visible Noise (UK)/Rise Records (US).

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Blaise Ruston