THE WARRIORS 'Genuine Sense of Outrage' (Victory) RATING: 7.5/10

By JEFF MAKI

Seven-year hardcore veterans The Warriors indeed display a Genuine Sense of Outrage on their new release, their first for Victory Records. The five-piece rips through a ferocious 13-song collection of top-notch hardcore fused with metal and even some slight hints of hip-hop.

Think the best moments of Sick of It All, Downset and Rage Against the Machine all coming together for a nonstop outing of aggression and breakdowns galore. Spinning the album once is like a stiff jab to the nose. The second time through, it's an uppercut that'll leave you laying on the canvas. Lead vocalist Marshall Lichtenwaldt's high-pitched scream is trademark hardcore but at times also reminds me of Chimaira's Mark Hunter. Lou Koller of the previously mentioned Sick of It All makes a guest vocal appearance on “Mankind Screams” and Andrew Neufield of touring mates Comeback Kid also lends vocals on the release. Standout songs are the opening trio of “The Ruthless Sweep,” “Life Grows Cold” and “The Stone Grinds,” but the big surprise is “Price of Punishment,” on which Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead provides the catchiest punk chorus of the album.

Overall, Genuine Sense of Outrage transcends genres and is a lethal statement by The Warriors. This is surely their career-defining album and one of the strongest of the hardcore scene as of late. Nothing complicated here, just a raw hardcore hybrid with enough punch to knock your teeth out.