"Containing current/ex-members of Bracewar, Fire & Ice, Iron Boots, and more, Friend Or Foe has toured the East Coast US multiple times and Europe twice alongside the likes of Naysayer and Fire & Ice. The band has played at some of the world's prime hardcore and punk festivals including United Blood Fest, Black & Blue Bowl, Sound & Fury, Ieper Fest, and others."

That's impressive, but I've never heard of them. I don't mean that as a shot at Friend Or Foe, but to demonstrate just how out of touch I am with hardcore in 2016. Admittedly, I would probably not have checked them out if this weren't released on Flatspot records, but that would have been a mistake.

Friend Or Foe have got the sound to go with their credentials. Fast and aggressive hardcore, without stupid breakdowns. They very much sound like a band from Richmond. I'm not really sure how to accurately articulate what I mean by that, but if you're familiar with bands from that area, you'll likely know what I am trying to describe.

The vocal delivery is a little marble-mouthed, the bass has that super cool rattling noise, and the song writing sounds like they listened to a lot of One Voice. All good things. It's that cool kind of hardcore that is hard to describe why it's so enjoyable because it really is pretty simplistic. Certain bands just hit that primal nerve that others can't. Friend Or Foe does and I have no idea why. I'm not moshing because I've regained my dignity, but I'm nodding at the bar and even thinking about walking up to the stage to watch.