“New Year. Same me” – I say as I spin Vigilante’s excellent EP, Fear of Defeat for the 10th time in a row. There’s a deep comfort in the expectations that come with such a release – and it’s not fucking laziness. To be able to carry the torch for the genre in a competent way is just goddamn “chef’s kiss”. There is precedent in the pedigree with Vigilante as they boast former members of bands like: Love Is Red and xTyrantx. Yeah, they know what the fuck they’re doing.
Opener “Heart is Cold” spends little time in getting to the fucking point. This is a hardcore record through and through. The intense build up in the snare roll steamrolls into the driving verse. And lest you doubt a true adherence and reverence to the core, Vigilante enlists the aid of Cold As Life’s frontman, Jeff Gunnels on this track (Born to Land Hard is still unfuckwithable).
I admit I am a mark for any hardcore songs that add movie clips into them. But then, Vigilante decides to put a clip from underrated masterpiece, Lil’ Nicky?! Tug on my elder millennial heartstrings why don’t you. Not to mention that the lyrics are a pointed “fuck you” to organized religion and the ills that follow with it. Lyrics that are guaranteed to cause a 16 car pile up at the front of any stage exist in “Never Fear Them”
Choose your weapon that you think you rely on
Pick your cross that you want to die on
If that doesn’t tickle your taint, then you might actually be dead.
“Run For Your Life” is a groove infused, two step monster on its own. I get Reign Supreme vibes through and through as this song could’ve easily been a bonus track on Testing the Limits of Infinite (I am not claiming plagiarism here, simply homage and influence. Everyone relax!) A dissertation in the violence of our society and the disconnect in when that violence is justified or necessary. “Shattered Outlook” then takes a turn towards the introspective. Feeling lost and rudderless is such a base human feeling and those lyrics are especially prevalent on this track. Musically, this is a song that Buried Alive should have written but they didn’t. An excellent display in outright punishment and moments of anticipation all resulting in the beatdown of a lifetime as the song ends.
Title track album closer, “Fear of Defeat”, wastes little time in getting to the fucking point. This is no long, drawn out album closer where a band tends to test out some new techniques or soundscapes that rarely mesh with the former songs. This is Madball meets All Out War. Vigilante pushes that boulder up the hill with the assist of Saffron Florea of Slice. The two singers trade lyrics of PMA mixed with “fuck you”, the epitome of the dichotomy of the human existence.
Hardcore is a bit of a muddy genre nowadays. Purists have their beliefs; narrow, rigid, and unforgiving. I say, fuck that. Hardcore is a feeling you get when you hit play regardless of the existence of a solo or breakdowns. Vigilante is hardcore. Fear of Defeat is an EP rife with hardcore feeling. Hit play and lay a motherfucker out.
- Fav song: “Never Fear Them”
FFO: beatdown, hardcore, Detroit, Little Caesar’s Hot N Ready, breakdowns, two steps, mittens
Follow this fucking link to listen and while you’re there, fucking buy something from the band:
Windmills, Spinkicks, Headbangs, Push Pits 
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