Influenced by the likes of Black Flag & Minor Threat Beyond Hurt And Hell is the debut release from British Hardcore hopefuls The Legacy and no doubt it will spawn comparisons with fellow Brits Gallows,  not least due to the fact that  vocalist Adam Cox doesn't  sound too dissimilar to Gallows’ frontman Frank Carter. 

But that isn't the be all and end all for The Legacy as the album opens with that short musical intro ‘Alpha’ before moving into full throttle for the ruthless ‘Ill Fated’ which sees the band showing a hint of punk mixed with the hardcore. Angry, unyielding and in your face, exactly how it should be.  Elsewhere ‘Fire And Brimstone’ shows that the band excel in writing music to grab the listener’s attention. In a world where everyone appears to try to overcomplicate albums it is nice to see a band that keeps things trimmed down and appreciates that writing a good song is more than just moving up and down the neck of a guitar at ridiculous speeds.  From the slow military style drums at the start of the song, through the guitars kicking in to the bass line that takes over when everything else quietens down, it is simply a good lesson on creating simple but great music.   

Although Beyond Hurt, Beyond Hell’s starts off well enough the band suddenly seem able to up the ante with ‘Remnants’ which shows what The Legacy are fully capable of, the opening riff, much like a lot of the music on the album, is uncomplicated but catchy and they keep the immense music going pretty much from here with the slow breakdown on ‘Ashes To Ashes’ and the danceable drums on ‘Closure’ both deserving a separate mention. 

Overall the combination of great guitar work, thumping drums and changes in noise level and speeds have helped this Sheffield band create some truly great moments.  Beyond Hurt, Beyond Hell is a consistent offering that should hopefully see the band gain at least some of the success and stardom that Gallows have seen recently.

Darren Brushneen