Terror - One With The Underdogs
2004 Trustkill Records
by Skin Splitter

Quick Summary:
The debut release on a bigger time record label (Terror had produced 7" and 12" before.  Most recognizably "Lowest Of The Low") for Terror.  This is quite possibly one of the best newer hardcore (2000 or after) bands out there.  Period.  Terror comes in with the pure attitude of well "Fuck Everything and Everybody" and they are more than happy to put that on a shirt for you (one which I own).  Their sound can be described as a cross between Blood For Blood's Outlaw Anthems and Biohazards Punishment.  Just straight up drop-D tuning straight to your face.  The only difference is that with most of the newer hardcore (Hatebreed, Pro-Pain) there are breakdowns.  Terror doesn’t really use breakdowns as well as they could which can make the songs sound repetitive.

The music is backed by the voice of Scott Vogul, who is considered by some to be the next coming of Christ in the hardcore movement.  Vogul's growls can only be described as a cross between Jamey 
Jasta and Even Seinfeld.  The words are annunciated so you can understand exactly what he is saying and what he means.  I don't believe he is a Christ figure, but I do believe he does stand out a little in terms of the other sounding vocalist out there.  This album does have it's typical flaws for hardcore.  One is that, as with all hardcore albums, it's short, and it begins to all sound the same.  Another foreseeable flaw is that in order for hardcore to work, you have to believe it.  Unlike death metal and black metal, in which the words just have to be dark and disgusting, hardcore is about what it seen.  It tells a story.  Makes a point.  I'm happy to say that since I saw these guys live without ever hearing anything from them before, they convinced me right then and there.  This CD only backs it up.

Song Summaries:

1. One With The Underdogs - Right out of the gate.  Nice political song for the masses.  Faster paced.  A good song to dance to.  A
2. Keep Your Mouth Shut - Can anyone guess what this song is about?  Little breakdown in the middle.  Almost Madball style.  B
3. Less Than Zero - The song is pretty straightforward until around 
   1:20.  Then it takes a change of pace and really enhances the song.  B
4. Are We Alive? - The music is good quality with a nice breakdown, but the vocals get too muffled and you can only hear about 1/3 of what he is saying.  C
5. Overcome - By now this song starts to sound like the others.  But, 
   it's still a good song to pit to with a nice even beat and small musical changes that make it good after the first minute or so.  C
6. Spit My Rage - The song title should say enough!  Fast and 
   dangerous.  Spit my rage in your face. Indeed.  At 1:08, the floor would be going nuts.  A-
7. No One Cares - This sounds like Are We Alive?, but the change in the vocals make this song a better listen.  And it speaks to me more.  B-
8. Not This Time - This is a slower paced song but still full of energy 
   and anger.  A chugging guitar and about three chords.  All you need if you play them in the right order.  B
9. Crushed By The Truth - And then we get fast again.  Can't really hear half of what he is saying, but I’m going to assume he's not taking about puppies.  Shortest song on the album (under 1 min.)  C-
10. Out Of My Face - Best song on the album.  Just for the opening 
    verse.  If you want to know what goes through Skin Splitter's head overtime when he's at a mall, this is it.  A+
11. All I’ve Got - This song reminds me of an F.S.U. reunion song. 
     Believe in me, believe in this, it's all I've got.  Yeah, sounds about 
    right.  C-
12. Find My Way - This song is a cross between Overcome and No One Cares.  Avoidable, but it's short.  C-
13. Enemies In Sight - Why the last song is over three minutes is beyond me since only one song on the entire album is over three minutes.  Ahhh secret song time...Well, the beginning of the song sounds like typical Terror music, but there is a group of singers singing along with him.  And a nice breakdown at 1:25 that changes the mood of the song as well.  B-
14. After a two minute pause, the music continues with...perhaps another song called "Let The Past Be The Past?'  I'm not sure, but it's a pretty decent song.  It's slower paced with good guitar chugs and a nice beat.  And swears.  Plenty of swears, but it's actually a little too slow and doesn't really mix well with the rest of the album.  Maybe that's why it's at the end.  B-

Average Song Rating:  B-
Overall Album Rating:  B+