Buffalo, NY has been a major hotbed for hardcore for the past couple generations. Here to prove just that is up and coming act Spaced with their highly anticipated new EP, which is planning to release through Revelation Records, This Is All We Ever Get. This record not only embodies Buffalo hardcore perfectly but it also encapsulates the psychedelic and groovy vibe Spaced were going for and more. With recording done by Jay Zubricky of Terror and Mindforce while mastering was done by Will Killingsworth of Orchid over at Dead Air Studios, its clear the world isn’t even close to ready for what Spaced has to offer on this new release.
Opening up with the first single of this album cycle, ‘Landslide’ is a fast paced and pounding ordeal all on its own. Although the track blends perfectly into track two which is titled ‘Big Picture’. A completely different beast on its own; slowing down a hair this track but that’s not to say it isn’t heavy. Really showing listeners that groove and bouncy aspect of their sound while pounding through an absolutely smashing example of Buffalo hardcore at its finest. ‘Big Picture’ has potential for best track on the record hands down.
Our third track is a short one but oh so sweet to say the least. A mere two minutes but it gets its point across perfectly as vocals chant lyrics at listeners while some flawless two step hardcore pounds behind it all. Vocalist Lexi Reyngoudt‘s approach behind the mic not only hits hard as ever but the delivery is guaranteed to keep this track repeating in listeners heads for a while. Keeping with this approach on track six , ‘The Difference’, Lexi’s vocals are as catchy as ever. Right behind them yet again are the fabulous psychedelic grooves that the band manage to combine flawlessly with the hardcore influence they bring to the table.
From obvious influences like Buffalo’s Terror, the group seems to take on a sound all their own while remaining almost similar to the sound of Turnstile and Scowl. Add in the cosmic vibe they seems to blend perfectly with all of this and you get exactly what Spaced was going for. Flawlessly executed thus far with a couple tracks left to go, its fair to say it can only get better from here.
Appropriately adding to the cosmic vibe of the record is the seventh track ‘Cosmic Groove’. Another two stepping masterpiece, ‘Cosmic Groove’ is going to be a mosh pit goers favourite with blendy of room to two step, spin kick, and crowd kill all in one song. Another roughly two minute long track, it goes from the fast paced tempo a two stepper would love before dropping into an absolutely massive breakdown in the last twenty seconds. Possibly the hardest breakdown all record, it was fitting to save it for the end. Closing out on ‘Running Man’ which feel a big calmer as a whole, it feels fitting to leave listeners with this track to calm down a bit from all the fast paced hardcore the band subjected them to the last seven tracks.
Not only does this record exceed expectations, it feels like its quite possibly ahead of its time in today’s age of hardcore. Spaced are not only that band but they’re sure to become the hardcore band among North America’s vast hardcore scene today. If This Is All We Ever Get isn’t enough proof for you, we don’t know what is.