Pretty Low

Audio Mixer: Shane Hochstetler.
Recording information: Howl Street Studios (01/2014).
Photographers: Nick Gauthier; Mike Watson.
Evoking the chest-thumping hardcore that had bands like Snapcase and Integrity dominating mosh pits in the '90s, Expire create a monument to catharsis on their sophomore effort, Pretty Low. A metalcore album in the classic sense, the album takes the agitation and aggression of hardcore punk and gives it a razor-sharp metal edge, making it a throwback to the time when Victory Records was the king of tough-guy hardcore. What's most impressive is how Expire capture not only the sound of the era, but also the attitude, delivering every breakdown with a confident swagger that feels as though the band is itching for a fight. If you're a lapsed hardcore fans looking to time-travel back to the days of spin kicks, track pants, and crews, Pretty Low will take you back there in a heartbeat. ~ Gregory Heaney