No one has ever mistaken
October File for easy listening, and it is a safe bet that no one ever will.
Holy Armour from the Jaws of God favors a blistering, scorching approach to hardcore, alternative metal, and alternative rock, and the influences that have served these Brits well in the past -- including
Killing Joke,
Ministry,
Black Flag,
the Dead Kennedys, and
Sepultura -- continue to serve them well on this 2007 recording. The songs on
Holy Armour from the Jaws of God tend to be very sociopolitical; religion, war, and environmental problems are among the topics that
October File address, and they are addressed with all of scalding anger that one expects from hardcore-minded bands. But while many hardcore and metalcore bands have a "let's unite and join forces" type of theme to go with all their angst, tracks like "High Octane Climate Changer," "Hallowed Be Thy Army," "Religion?," and "Blood and Sweat" are simply bitter protest rants.
Holy Armour from the Jaws of God describes the world's troubling conditions, and the members of
October File are not happy about those conditions; in fact, they are downright furious. This 2007 release is as caustic musically as it is lyrically; even someone who doesn't speak a word of English and cannot understand any of the lyrics would come to the conclusion that
October File are one angry band.
October File are also a passionate band, and even though
Holy Armour from the Jaws of God isn't quite as consistent as it could have been, there are enough strong, memorable tracks to make it a worthwhile addition to the Brits' catalog. ~ Alex Henderson