VENIA

It's time once again for that token review of a Christian hardcore album. Sorry, just seemed like the thing to say. Actually, I'm not sure if I can remember the last time I reviewed a pure Christcore album in these "pages". Anyway, as you may have gathered, "Frozen Hands" by Minneapolis' VENIA is hardcore with a message, one that serves as a warning to the horned one to back off and let faith take over; I'll leave it to someone else to debate the wisdom of that choice. Oh yeah, the 12 tracks on this sophomore release pack a good punch and the songwriting ain't too shabby either, which is what the "it's the music, not the message" crowd would seem to be most concerned about.

Most would not call "Frozen Hands" a groundbreaker or a hardcore album that stands far apart from releases by VENIA's pious peers. It does stand somewhat apart though. In addition to the face-reddening barks and brutal beat downs, the boys do a nice job of crafting the compositions in a way that significantly reduces track-bleed (the bleeding of one track into the next without anyone realizing a new song has begun). Progressive it is not, but songs like "Predictable" and "Hand of Security" (presumably, the right hand) offer teasing bits of melody in the guitar lines, small riff twists, and spot on pace changes. More importantly to hardcore purists, the violence of the assault rises to the top and rarely wanes; definitely some tough stuff going on here.

Gang shouts, concrete riffs, drill sergeant barking… You've probably heard it all before, but VENIA repackages and presents it with above average skill, even if I'd rather spin something by the likes of DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR or TERROR. As for the message, perhaps it is best to allow the lyrics of "It Starts Here" serve as an explanation for the level of conviction involved. "So let's take this world and turn it upside down / let's show them what this love means / it starts here". You realize that you might be included in "them," right?