Artist: MADBALL
Album: FOR THE CAUSE VINYL (LP BLACK)

Release date: 2018
EAN/UPS: 727361368210
Media type: LP

Maintaining urgency, authenticity and integrity has never been an issue for New York City’s hardest, and hardest working band, MADBALL. Twenty-five years along as a recording and touring entity, MB brings forth its ninth aural chapter, »For The Cause«; a signature collection of lionhearted, groove-laden, street-level New York Hardcore as only MADBALL can bring it.

The aptly titled album doesn’t so much revisit where the group has been since 1994 - although MADBALL released its first EP, »Ball Of Destruction« as a virtual AGNOSTIC FRONT side-project back in 1989 - but forges forward and represents where the fellas find themselves collectively and personally a quarter-decade down the road.

Throughout the band’s storied history, MADBALL has asserted its mission; carrying forth a simple yet righteous cause, and this time around, they’ve chosen to define that cause more succinctly than ever before. Tornadic vocalist/front man Freddy Cricien explains, “If you’re not fighting for a cause, you’re not participating in life. Simple as that. Speak up, fight, educate yourself, make a difference and make sacrifices for what’s important to you.” Words to live by.

»For The Cause« sees the return to the fold of guitarist Matt Henderson, who hasn’t appeared on a MADBALL album since 2000’s »Hold It Down«, for which Henderson also served as producer. “To have him record with us again was really special,” offers Freddy. He adds, “Matt’s been playing ‘commemorative’ shows and tours with us on-and-off over the years, so, obviously, the love and friendship is there. He’ll always be an honorary member… A MADBALL lifer.”

Unique to this album is the stellar production work by RANCID’s Tim Armstrong, who clearly helped express MADBALL’s distinctive voice powerfully and dynamically without stepping on the trademark formula the band has forever carried, yet constantly seeks to improve upon. Danish studio veteran Tue Madsen (MESHUGGAH, DARK TRANQUILLITY, SICK OF IT ALL) skillfully handled mixing duties on »For The Cause«.

As for MADBALL’s astounding longevity in the hardcore game: “We don’t know how to do anything else at this point. We raise our families to the best of our ability; we do MADBALL to the best of our ability… So far so good, and we don’t feel that we’ve reached our full potential in either of those areas just yet.”

Side A:

01. Smile Now Pay Later
02. Rev Up
03. Freight Train
04. Tempest
05. Old Fashioned
06. Evil Ways feat. Ice T
07. Lone Wolf

Side B:

01. Damaged Goods
02. The Fog feat. Tim Timebomb
03. Es Tu Vida
04. For You
05. For The Cause
06. Confessions (bonus)

LINE-UP:

Line up:
Freddy Cricien | vocals
Hoya Roc | bass guitar
Mike Justian | drums