Get a Grip/Hammerhead split CD Review

Get a Grip starts out this split CD with 5 yawn inducing tracks that are seriously like a musical Quaalude, and not in a good way either. Lots of Integrity influenced shit with predictable fast beats and boring mosh parts. The singer sounds like (or tries to sound like) Dwid from Integrity on some of the songs, which are hard to differentiate as they tend to blend together. Unfortunately there’s not much of anything memorable here, just another disposable recording in a sea of others, which sucks because I’ve listened to GAG’s first EP and I remember it being better than this. Fortunately Hammerhead changes things up for the better with some more downtempo hardcore with really good vocals, this dude’s voice has character and compliments the music. Some of the songs could be compared to some of Righteous Jams’ material ie. playing rocking midtempo HC with emphasis on big riffs. The lyrics remind me of Outbreak at times being pessimistic and somewhat caustic. This Split CD is worth buying for Hammerhead’s material alone. The cover art is decidedly in a thrash vein, but the album sounds a lot different than what you’d expect. Once again, Get a Grip’s songs were disappointing while Hammerhead shows a lot of promise, since only half the album is good the rating I give this album will be 2.5 out of 5.

-Charlie S