Stress Positions - Harsh Reality

When the PR blast references the artist as "My new favorite band" you kind of HAVE to check it out right? That's what got me to listen to Stress Positions, whose new album Harsh Reality has left me extremely impressed. This is thoughtful, dance-able and political hardcore driven by high energy vocals and tight guitar performances. This is an intense listen and one that I think fans from all sides of the underground are going to find themselves enamored with. It's intense and awe inspiring listening like few others have crafted. 

Harsh Reality is perhaps most defined by the high pitched femme screams of their frontperson. Yet this band is interesting because they aren't afraid to break out of the traditional hardcore mold. While there are certainly fast and fun hardcore songs all throughout this record, Stress Positions also impress with the brooding and off kilter bridges of a track like "Ode To Aphrodite". While they can riff with the best of them, Stress Positions also find ways to enhance the sound and bring in more elements than just ferocious screaming for twenty five minutes. It makes for a very different, compelling and exciting release, sure to keep listeners coming back. 

Stress Positions are a one of a kind force in the underground, even after hearing only a few tracks that much was clear to me. They are a distinctive and inspiring band, a project who have a clear vision and who seem capable of doing so much more than the vast majority of their peers. Harsh Reality is an addictive, enduring listen and one that I know for a fact I will be returning too. As for now I'm deeply curious to see these cats live. I'm sure there vibrant diversity is going to make for compelling stuff!

Pre-order the album! 

https://threeoneg.com/archive/vinyl/harsh-reality-lp