Cockring’s newest album, Altar Call, a No Time Records darling, is a perfect example of what hardcore should be.
The album, my favorite drop of 2024, is so jarring that it will leave you questioning the limits of aggression in music.
With chaotic rhythms, politically-charged lyrics, and relentless energy, Altar Call will leave you breathless and shaken - and is all the better for it.
If you’re new to Cockring, get ready for a dive into a world where hardcore and punk collide with unapologetic fury. This drop rejects those looking for the lame, radio-friendly anthems of hardcore’s new found popularity. Altar Call is a raw, in-your-face experience that demands attention, forcing you to confront uncomfortable truths about society, politics, and personal struggle.
From the opening track, “Rotten to the Core,” the Sacramento, California-based outift wastes no time in setting the tone. The song is a perfect introduction to the band’s sound - a mix of hardcore punk, grindcore, and elements of metal that create a punishing, frenetic atmosphere. The guitars are jagged and dissonant, lurching forward with riffs that seem on the verge of breaking apart, while the drums, driven by an almost machine-like precision, hammer away with unrelenting force. Frontman Jake Vavrek’s vocals are as furious as ever, a guttural scream that feels like a rallying cry for the disillusioned and disenfranchised.
Throughout Altar Call, Cockring maintains this intensity, with each track slamming into the next with no refractory period. Songs like “Faith in Ruin” and “Burn the System” feature jagged, angular guitar work that build tension before unleashing into high-speed chaos. Bassist Nick Brueckner, provides a tight foundation for the whirlwind of noise, creating an urgent, almost claustrophobic feel. It's hardcore at its most visceral - ferocious, disorienting, and fast.. I love it.
What’s most striking about 'Altar Call' is its commitment to staying true to hardcore’s roots while also embracing a new level of experimentation. Cockring doesn’t shy away from taking risks, incorporating elements of noise that challenge the listener’s expectations. This is most evident in tracks like “Apostate,” which has shifts in tempo and rhythm that create a sense of unease which perfectly complement the album’s overarching themes of societal collapse and rebellion.
Thematically, Altar Call is as sharp as its sonic landscape. The lyrics are politically charged, tackling issues such as the failures of modern institutions, religious hypocrisy, and societal decay. In listening I find a sense of urgency, a call to action.
In tracks like “Holy War” and “Sickened,” the band takes aim at the intersection of religion and politics, critiquing the way institutions have manipulated faith for power and control. For fans of Cockring’s previous work, Altar Call will feel like a natural evolution, building on the band’s sound and lyrical themes.
Get It
- No Time Records (vinyl, cassette)
Tagged: cockring
