Today I decided to write about a record that jump started the now towering force that is Maryland's Full Of Hell. From a rising band in hardcore/punk circles to one of the most revered bands in the extreme metal scene, their first full length "Roots Of Earth Are Consuming My Home" found the band crafting a record that was firmly entrenched in DIY punk ethos, while also exploring extreme music influences that they would dive much deeper into on subsequent releases. And while their sound would go on to evolve and become more and more extreme with each release, they have remained true to their roots and as such have not only pulled in many new listeners with each album, but kept the majority of their early fanbase as well.
From the opening unnerving noise of the opening song "Pile Of Dead Horses" that segues into an intense blast of fast hardcore, you can tell that Full Of Hell hasn't ever been a band to fuck around. The 11 songs on "Roots.." are an amalgamation of many different heavy genres, including black metal, grindcore and powerviolene, all fused together and delivered with the urgency of hardcore as the backbone. It's a sound that many bands before and after have tried to varying degrees of success, but with this album the band really knocked it out of the park. The outright viciousness of this material is not to be understated, and the album is relentless in it's outright intensity from the opening to the very last note. The very appropriate production hits with just the right amount of grime and filth while still hitting hard, a perfect match for the songs themselves and their bleak lyrical and musical content.
There is absolutely no doubt that in the 9 years since this album was released, Full Of Hell have evolved musically in leaps and bounds with every release thereafter, most recently with their newest full length, the stunning Weeping Choir. But "Roots.." will forever stand as a reminder that they have been a very special, unique band for many years, always a standout in the sea of their peers and elders alike. Before COVID-19 enveloped the entire world in chaos, the band had a planned residency at the infamous Roadburn Festival, where they planned on playing a few full album sets as well as a set of earlier material from "Roots..." and other releases. Here is hoping that in the future those sets can still come to fruition, and will be documented in some form. This album remains one of the first of many statements to come from one of extreme music's best current bands, and is an essential record for all lovers of metal and hardcore.
Thanks for reading.
From the opening unnerving noise of the opening song "Pile Of Dead Horses" that segues into an intense blast of fast hardcore, you can tell that Full Of Hell hasn't ever been a band to fuck around. The 11 songs on "Roots.." are an amalgamation of many different heavy genres, including black metal, grindcore and powerviolene, all fused together and delivered with the urgency of hardcore as the backbone. It's a sound that many bands before and after have tried to varying degrees of success, but with this album the band really knocked it out of the park. The outright viciousness of this material is not to be understated, and the album is relentless in it's outright intensity from the opening to the very last note. The very appropriate production hits with just the right amount of grime and filth while still hitting hard, a perfect match for the songs themselves and their bleak lyrical and musical content.
There is absolutely no doubt that in the 9 years since this album was released, Full Of Hell have evolved musically in leaps and bounds with every release thereafter, most recently with their newest full length, the stunning Weeping Choir. But "Roots.." will forever stand as a reminder that they have been a very special, unique band for many years, always a standout in the sea of their peers and elders alike. Before COVID-19 enveloped the entire world in chaos, the band had a planned residency at the infamous Roadburn Festival, where they planned on playing a few full album sets as well as a set of earlier material from "Roots..." and other releases. Here is hoping that in the future those sets can still come to fruition, and will be documented in some form. This album remains one of the first of many statements to come from one of extreme music's best current bands, and is an essential record for all lovers of metal and hardcore.
Thanks for reading.
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