Terrorize

It took me a few days to deal with my scruples of what I am about to do. The time has come to push the contemporary Attitude Adjustment off the pedestal, the band occupied since the release of “American Paranoia” in 1986. What started as an example of excellent crossover, turned into simple mediocre hardcore music. My biggest problem is not the fact that Attitude Adjustment went hardcore. Generally, I like most of that stuff. But they did it under the same moniker they released a milestone more than 30 years ago. It shows again that what is dead should remain dead and is not be re-animated. Resuscitation after 20 years is bound to become a Frankenstein experience. And as we know from fiction these experiments fail. And so do Attitude Adjustment. Where wild and fresh crossover ruled, testosterone laden hardcore replaced most metallic elements that form an integral part of crossover. These guys seem to be so full of male hormones that if you are a lady you should keep your distance. The testosterone surging off their bodies could cause you to grow a moustache. Ok, you got it. I am royally pissed off.

What does this EP offer, other than to “Terrorize” me, walking down the memory lane? Did I mention already that Attitude Adjustment now play hardcore? I did? Just wanted to be sure. They start off well. “End This Endless Life” is a perfect opener and at the same time one of the highlights of the album. To the point, straight in your face and in less than two minutes the pandemonium is over. Not enough time to repent and weaken my resolve though. And rightly so, because then it gets “Dead Serious”. The first of two major flaws, excluding my general dissent as explained above. “Dead Serious” and “In the Center” (flaw no. 2) are two of the better if not best tracks hailing from “American Paranoia” to be re-recorded on “Terrorize”. It borders on blasphemy that old brilliant songs get regurgitated and taste now like half-digested food. Kevin Reed, the tough “shouta” is simply missing the charisma of Andy Anderson, displayed 30 years earlier. Of course a lifetime of playing hardcore is key to not let “Terrorize” turn into a musical disaster. Songs like “Strayed” or “Dead to Me”, the latter being a bow to The Exploited, are too good to pass unnoticed. Still, the dull peculiar flavor keeps on lingering.

I am sure that the five guys were pretty confident when taking the decision to resurrect Attitude Adjustment the way it is presented now. I agree that confidence is essential, but cockiness is lethal. For me they committed murder and should have moved on under a different banner as the other former members did as well. What does remain after 23 minutes? 74/100 for the music, 30/100 for deliberately misleading the long-standing old school followers like me. What results in a grand total of 52/100.