I like me some ruffian music every now and then. Especially if it is metal enough. My first contact with US Pro-Pain happened in 1992 when I saw their music video for 'Pound for Pound' from their debut album 'Foul Taste of Freedom'. I remember digging its grooves, but did not get the album. Their sophomore platter, 'The Truth Hurts' was released in 1994 and there was 'Make War (Not Love)' music video in circulation. It was way heavier and sounded more metal to me, and I got the album.

'Contents under Pressure' is Pro-Pain's third full-length album in steady release cycle of two years. I bought it, even though it looked lame after the previous album's murder victim and location photography. Well, the band's album art has hardly been swell since... Okay, let's dig into contents here.

The drums. They sound clicking. Especially on faster parts, they tends to clang like a drum machine.To this day, I still do not know if they are played or programmed. Every beat sounds like it was hit with exactly same amount of power. It is hard to say if Dan Richardson was really behind the kit. This choice, whether it's a machine or triggering or whatever, really broke the album for me.

I scorned and steered clear of this album for quite some time (my stereo system was lame, and made this sound even worse). It is the brutal truth, because the music-wise, this is damn kicking and awesome. I can listen to this now, thanks to stereo systems able to put out more meaty sound. Gary Meskil's bass guitar is rumbling as is his commanding, low barking voice. The guitars by Tom Klimtchuck and Rob Moschetti are crunchy and sharp. I guess the drums sound this way so they stand out from other instruments.

Gary & Dan had been in Crumbsuckers before forming Pro-Pain. They never abandoned their hardcore roots, but strengthened the thrash metal attribute more and more with their new band. They got Moschetti from M.O.D., but there's really not that much of lead guitar work here, so it was to bolster the riffing more like. And it can be heard. It's truly mauling at times, with the hefty bass guitar beating brains into pulp. The half-thrash and hardcore riffing is catchy as fuck with fantastic driving rhythms, be it fast mincing or slower banging. The band does this very well indeed, no matter how them drums sound like (they are okay for most part now, but there's some facepalm moments for sure). Gary's vocals sound more like human this time around; maybe 'The Truth Hurts' style which was truly throat-lacerating, was simply too much in the long run?

The album works for its driving and catchy music, and I think the band honestly managed to pen some of their greatest tunes for this album, both punch-in-whang and anthemic. Pro-Pain is one of the most fluid hardcore bands for a metal fanatic, because of the brutal vocals, too. It is bludgeoning and groovy, and beckoning for a mosh pit!

Some extra information: The bonus track 'Pound for Pound' does not sound good. I mean it sounds muffled, like a bad MP3 file. They mix itself contains typical rap music scratching and some industrial sounds. (With Homer Simpson voice:) Boring! Not worth hunting down the limited digipak edition for this bonus piece alone. Plus, the digipak does not include that funny old photo where the band was manipulated into. I understand the censoring 'The Truth Hurts' artwork, but this is just lame. Well, the limited tin box edition does not include anything but the CD! Reissues have edited versions and live cuts, but no lost studio songs...

Rating: 8+ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
06/25/2023 11:27