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 DOWNSET Maintain By Francisco Zamudio, Metal X Candy 2.0 Monday, June 20, 2022 @ 9:39 AM
, through their newly signed partnership with Nuclear Blast Records.
What promises to be a return to form with a new line-up, even though some of the faces have changed, the message remains. With the help of TERROR’s Nick Jett behind the scenes as engineer, new members Bobby (Blood) Ponte on drums and Philip Gonzales on bass, along with the returning and original guitarist Rogelino Lozano - they all wanted to bring back the sound and vision that gave DOWNSET that highly respectable street credit. Maintain is their first album in 8 years and their 6th album overall and will rank among their best along with their self-titled debut, Do We Speak A Dead Language and Check Your People. It’s been worth the wait and with their new signed deal with Nuclear Blast, a "New Respect" is definitely in order. The breakdowns and groove on this album flows really well and is aggressive in its statement and in its sound, especially the bass and guitars which are very present. Rey’s message still rings true and he is on point with his vocal approach as he spits rhymes and some clean singing for added melody. Guitar riffs driving it all home and drum beats that breakout of the pocket but still hold it down. Along with some clever nods to the old albums that some might catch, this is very enjoyable album.
Although times were different in the 90’s, it seems the more things change… well, you know the rest. It may sound “dated” but like many caught on the nostalgia trip of the 90’s, Maintain really takes me back to my teenage years, hanging out with my high school crew. And even though many of those friends sadly drifted away from Metal and eventually slipped through the cracks, to those few who survived, I have a tremendous amount of love and respect for and that respect goes especially out to Rey for keeping the DOWNSET name alive.
4.0 Out Of 5.0
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Some of my favorite songs are the title track itself, "Won’t Forget", "On Lock (Only The Defest)", the empowering track "Your Power" and what I’d say is the heaviest tune on the album, “Hear Me Now”. DOWNSET have taken the traditional Hardcore sound and created havoc throughout the underground Los Angeles scene since their inception falling under that “crossover” banner. You have bands that are representatives of where they are from while others realy have no identity relating to their origin. With DOWNSET, it’s a clear statement where Rey and the name came from, about survival and not letting your past define you but to be present and know where you going and that’s ahead. Maintain is an excellent example of this and gives a new, positive energy that, through the help of Nuclear Blast, will reach more listeners.
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