ALBUM REVIEW: Madball maul on For The Cause

"You want the truth, start a revolution." This is the declaration from Madball on 'Rev Up', the second track on their latest album 'For The Cause'.

And, this is a band that has emerged in 2018, furious, angry and as vital as they have ever been: in fact it may be in the course of time seen as one of their best.

For the past quarter of a century the NYC hardcore crew have challenged the easy path, railed against mediocrity and the perceived wisdom polluting music, politics and society.

'For The Cause' is their ninth studio album and from the off it mauls the listener aurally with a set of lyrics that may raise a single finger, but is at the same time is life-affirming. The anger is harnessed and used in a sense that there is a positivity.

Sure, the sentiments are inevitably going to be a little bit of preaching to the converted, but if that spreads.

Freddy's voice is as always dripping with intent such as on 'Old-Fashioned' but the precise intonations and inflections make the message clear. "Too many of you living on your knees" -  time to get up.

Matt Henderson is back on guitar for the first time in 18 years and his riffing merges seamlessly with Freddy, Hoya and Mike.

Ice-T's contribution on Evil Ways turns it into a righteous declaration against murder. It like 'Damaged Goods' take the classic Madball Template and give it another kick in the arse.

Rancid's Tim  Armstrong stepped in behind the production desk, and seems to have managed to add a wee bit extra in the right places.

Their commitment to being good people for their families and Madball is exemplified in the brooding anthem 'For You'. This is a track that blasts with such upbeat defiance that it will be an essential live track.

On many albums guest appearances can be a distraction, but not on 'For The Cause'. The aforementioned Ice-T joins Tim Armstrong and The Business' Steve Whale on 'The Fog', and Psycho Realm's Sick Jacken on 'Rev Up'. It feels natural.

The full-on title track is tempered with a little dub to temper the fire before 'Confessions' rounds the album up in fine fettle.

In a world of 24-hour rolling news to scare the populace, when the music 'industry' demands quick returns from a succession of insipid clones, where politicians rule by soundbites and misinformation we need the words of Madball, "Get an education" Freddy declares, and you could do no worse than starting your education with 'For The Cause'.

Review by Jonathan Traynor

For The Cause is out now on Nuclear Blast

NEWS: Madball reveal new album almost finished and Ice-T involved on one track

NYHC kings Madball today announce that they have finished recording their upcoming new album, ‘For The Cause’.

The record is currently being mixed and mastered by renowned producer Tue Madsen at Antfarm Studios in Denmark and was co-produced by Tim Armstrong (Rancid), who also features on one song on the album.

Madball singer Freddy Cricien said: “Tim and us go way back, he‘s an old friend and super talented guy... across the board! A legend in his own right. He invited us to come record with him and it all fell into place very organically.

"He‘s respected our band from day one and was excited to be a part of this. We‘re honored to have him on board.”

Bass player Hoya Roc states: "We got a real good album. It feels like the movie "Pulp Fiction". We've got every style of hardcore in there. It feels like we've got something special!"

The band have also revealed that legendary rapper/actor/frontman Ice-T (Body Count) makes a guest appearance on one track!

Ice-T said: “It‘s an honor to record with the legendary Madball. Body Count draws its closest similarities to NY Hardcore. This is a natural.”

Added Cricien: "It's truly an honor to have Ice-T on our record! I grew up on his music from his early hip hop stuff till now. He's an iconic figure but also a 'class act', you don't always get both at once. Ice has a great respect for NYHC and Madball, means the world. This was meant to happen.... real recognizes real."

Madball recently released the ‘Family Biz’ split 7" vinyl single with Wisdom of Chains, featuring an early version of the upcoming album's title track.

Speaking about the track, front-man Freddy Cricien said “It's about staying the course and fighting for what you love and are passionate about.  It's a theme that you'll hear a lot throughout our next album. Utilizing negativity and the obstacles you face as inspiration. ‘Say I can't, say I won't again... Give me the fuel that I need to ascend!”