GenturZine

Track listing

1. Intro – 0:50
2. Can't Stop, Won't Stop – 1:01
3. Hold It Down – 2:19
4. Fall This Time – 2:28
5. Everyday Hate – 1:16
6. Done... – 1:38
7. Say What? – 1:50
8. D.I.F.M.M – 0:39
9. Show No Fear – 2:35
10. Never Look Back – 1:46
11. Still Searching – 2:13
12. Confessions – 1:45
13. Thinking To Myself – 3:39
14. Semper Fi – 2:47

The 21st century version of Madball strays only a little on Hold It Down, the New York hardcore outfit's first release for Epitaph Records. In the many years since their inception, the band's sound managed to evolve a bit, and careful scrutiny of each disc leading to this 2000 offering will reveal increasingly modern aggro and even hip-hop influences. The caustic vocal approach of Freddy Cricien remained constant and threatening, especially with his updated urban inflections, and of course the music remained brutal, if just a little slower. On Hold It Down, the shorter-than-average song lengths maintain a little old-school tradition, but some '80s NY hardcore purists will definitely consider this a plodding effort. Each groove has a sticky nu-metal flavor that fortunately gets hardened properly by Cricien's pummeling vocal assaults. The he-man posturing goes over the top on a few tracks, like "Show No Fear," but considering this group's impressive track record, they have a right to boast a little. - Vincent Jeffries, All Music Guide.

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