The self-titled album of 94 and ‘Do We Speak A Dead Language’ which followed a couple of years later were absolute classics. Downset, the US politically charged, socially responsible hardcore act should have been massive on the strength of these and their incendiary live shows, several of which I leapt about like a lemming to back in the day. However, gaps between albums became longer and longer, ten years between ‘Universal’ and comeback album ‘One Blood’, then another massive hiatus of 8 between this and brand-new album ‘Maintain’. With all these long periods of inactivity, it’s obviously difficult for a band to remain relevant and there’s even the danger of them falling into that dreaded “nostalgia” act category. The good news is, that back they are, courtesy of original vocalist and guitarist Rey Oropeza and Rogelio Lozano joined by newbies Phillip Gonzales on bass and ex Merauder drummer Bobby Blood and they are on Nuclear Blast to boot. Realising this had been out for a few weeks and being a long-term fan, I went and asked for this one as I had not been sent it. I kind of get the feeling that perhaps Downset are slipping between the gaps once more and not getting the attention they deserve. That aside, the one question that has to be asked is do they still have that (motherfucking) anger?
Several plays later it’s obvious they do although idealistically they want us all united in a common cause and in ‘Positive Mind.’ This is something all very good when you are watching them at a show for 45 minutes or listening to an album but as life has taught us more than ever over the last few years, it’s not so easy when you venture out into the real world again. Still, there’s no disputing the power, vitriol and good intentions of these 12 slammers. Tracks are all hyper-charged and cut of fat and the messages are loud and clear, rapped out in fast and furious fashion by Rey, just like in the old days.
The downside could be that musically nothing has changed and it could be said Downset are still playing that same song. There are often times listening to the new numbers where familiarity jumps in and you cannot help comparing it to an older one. Luckily, it’s still good, gets the listener pumped up and energised and wanting to “maintain” the traditions of old such as throwing oneself off a stage, even if bodies are no longer quite up to it. The incessant repetitive lyrical content sees the title track “fighting the day” like it’s the mid 90’s all over again and the band have just destroyed the stage leaving us in a heap awaiting a headliner such as Biohazard to do so all over again, without giving us any time to recover. ‘Blackest Of Days’ confronts what we and the band have been through with Covid but does it bring on the ‘New Respect’ they idealistically make a plea for straight after? The “no wars, no more” chant maybe infectious for a few scant minutes but it seems like this is a message that has definitely fallen on deaf ears. No harm in dreaming though.
‘Won’t Forget’ gives us a jangling guitar rhythm and a haunting melodic melody in between its jaunty pluckings. ‘Wreck It’ does as described and ‘brings the house down,’ movin and wreckin us to bounce around to its somewhat trite lyrics. However, if this sorta nonsense can send a festival into a frenzy when played by a band like Dub War it certainly can still do so for Downset. You could easily imagine Ice T guesting vocally on ‘The Place To Be,’ there’s more than a bit of Body Count about it. The chugging backbone is damn good and they admit to still having “the anger” yelling it out to the old guard and bringing a smile to faces in the process. It’s ‘Here Me Now’ that’s the real boisterous one though, the sort of track that would still have the band holding their own with the likes of Suicidal Tendencies and speaking of which there’s some damn Infectious Grooves about songs like ‘Deeper’ too.
Yeah boi, it’s got me all over again. Despite looking for the downside of Downset 2022 on the first few spins you can’t help by being won over in the end, playing this addictively and looking desperately for those all-elusive tour dates, it’s been far too long.
Still got it? Yep!
(7.5/10 Pete Woods)
https://www.facebook.com/DownsetLA
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