Hardcore Lives
Hardcore Lives is the eighth studio album by New York hardcore band Madball. It was released on June 27, 2014. This was the last album to feature guitarist Brian "Mitts" Daniels before his departure.
Background and history
On March 10, 2014, it was announced that Madball had entered the studio to begin recording their upcoming eighth studio album, which was scheduled for a mid-summer release. The band announced they were recording tracks with Ken Susi at System Recordings in Grafton, Massachusetts, and that additional recording would take place at Pinecrust Studios in Miami, Florida, with Jonathan Nuñez. Also, the album would be mixed by Zeuss, who previously worked with the band on their 2005 album Legacy and their 2007 album Infiltrate the System.On April 11, it was announced that the title of the upcoming album was Hardcore Lives, and that it would be released on June 27, 2014. Vocalist Freddy Cricien commented on the album title, saying:
On April 25, a lyric video for the song "DNA" was released. On April 30, an in-studio trailer was released.
Critical reception
Alternative Press wrote “If you’re expecting anything more than honest, killer hardcore, Hardcore Lives will be a bit dull around the edges for you. But those expecting true old-school New York City hardcore will be completely satisfied with new additions like the punky “Doc Marten Stomp,” the Spanish-sung “Mi Palabra” and the ultra-heavy “DNA” to Madball’s already extensive, if not slightly exhausting, canon.”Credits
;Madball- Freddy Cricien – vocals
- Hoya Roc – bass
- Mitts – guitars
- Mike Justian – drums
- Scott Vogel – guest vocals on "True School"
- Candace Puopolo – guest vocals on "Born Strong"
- Toby Morse – guest vocals on "My Armor"
- Chad Gilbert – backing vocals on "My Armor
- CM Punk – backing vocals on "My Armor"
- Ken Susi – recording, tracking, engineering
- Jonathan Nuñez – recording
- Zeuss – mixing, mastering