Biohazard - Urban Discipline
1992 Roadrunner Records

Track Listing:
1. Chamber Spins Three
2. Punishment
3. Shades Of Grey
4. Business
5. Black And White And Red All Over
6. Man With A Promise
7. Disease
8. Urban Discipline
9. Loss
10. Wrong Side Of The Tracks
11. Mistaken Identity
12. We're Only Gonna Die (From Our Own Arrogance)
13. Tears Of Blood
14. Hold My Own

Line-Up:
Vocals:  Billy Graziadei, Evan Seinfeld
Guitar:  Billy Graziadei, Bobby Hambel
Bass:  Evan Seinfeld
Drums:  Danny Schuler

Website:  www.biohazard.com

Horatio's Rating:  B
Average Album Rating:  B

Horatio's Review:
Nothing represents the early nineties better than Biohazard, a band who I was fortunate (un?) to witness live twice during the decade, both times not understanding a single key, such was their overwhelming volume.  The impression Biohazard strove to inflict was that of a bunch of hardened thugs from New York who had seen every kind of horror on the streets.  Their music back in 1992 was equal parts metal and hardcore, with a bit of rap thrown in for good measure.  I used to listen to this album frequently back in the mid 90's, along with 'State Of The World Address'.  Did I think it made me tough?  Or did I think it was heavy?  I'm unsure now, but I thought Machine Head were cool in 1995 so there you have it.

Upon discovering the video for 'Punishment' on Metal Mania on VH-1, I was compelled to hear this again.  The visuals of assorted rude hoods in the video is a sight to behold.  A collection of fruits wearing Yankees caps and hoods with bomber jackets, it is 1992 in all its glory.  The track itself is classic, heavy enough to keep me satisfied and with such cornball lyrics that I'll find my self laughing out loud.  How about this one, 'Another fucking lowlife connected to the firm' ('Chamber Spins Three') or from the same track, 'you fucking scumbag piece of shit, die motherfucker!!!!'.  The band takes on the record industry in 'Business', which is bound to raise a grin, 'music's for you and me, not the fucking industry!!'.  Singling out more songs is too much of a task, but 'Shades Of Grey' and the title track are the best of the rest.  I cannot deny the heaviness of the material, but in such a cornball way that it's almost addictive.

This is by far the band's best album, with 1994's 'State Of The World Address' a close second.  The band was making waves during these years, with a couple of slots at Donnington in 1994 and 1996.  Then Hambel quit and the band recorded 'Mata Leão' as a three piece.  That album is surely one of the most tedious and repetitive I've ever heard and signaled it was all over.  The band continues to exist but have never recaptured past glories.  Well I suspect not as I've only heard one track from them since 1996, some crappy thrasher called 'Kill Or Be Killed'.  These dudes had their time and place in the early 90's scene and almost did enough to stand out with 'Urban Discipline'.  Play it for old times sake, it's bound to put a smile on your face.  It did for me.  'Would you turn that down please?', asks a lecturer.  'No!!!!!!!!!!!!!'
Horatio's Rating:  B

Also be sure to read:
Nativity In Black:  A Tribute To Black Sabbath by Shev