I'll start off this review with an apology. I am officially apologizing to Justin Brannan, guitarist for New York hardcore outfit MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, and trusted writer for FoundryMusic.com. Why? Because I've owned a copy of his band's disc, Nothing in Vain for several months now, and never made good on my promise to him to review it on the site. I'm such a shit, and you'd think after this disc showed up between ROB ZOMBIE and KITTIE on the CMJ Hard Rock charts (I think it peaked at number three), I would have gotten my shit together, and put it up here...Of fucking course not. Well, it's March 2002, and I'm finally putting up this fucking review. Sorry Justin.
OK, if I ever kill my dog, and smear his bloody carcass all over my living room floor, I know exactly what CD I'm going to put in my stereo: Nothing in Vain by MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD. Formed from the remains of INDECISION, these guys have been a NY hardcore staple for years, and with their recent release on Trustkill records (who incidentally sunk a pile of money into making and printing up these discs...nice fucking packaging!), they rise to a new level of sonic brutality.
Rather than trying to play faster and harder than everyone else (which is common with a lot of harcore acts) MPB has a stripped-down approach to their writing, a la SICK OF IT ALL, BLACK FLAG, and AGNOSTIC FRONT. Lyrically, the songs are emotional and very passionate...even though it sounds like singer Tom Sheehan stabs himself in the throat with an icepick before he gets near a microphone, one read through the CD insert, and you'll subject yourself to some potent, often depressing words and imagery...I've always said that the best songs come out when your emotions are at their peak...either when you're really bullshit, or when you're just about to plunk yourself down in a warm bathtub and slice open a vein.
The riffs are strong throughout the disc. I mean, you're not going to hear any multi-platinum hard rock songs on this disc, but I don't think that's what MPB is going for. They're on the road regularly, playing with established hardcore acts all over the country, and they attract a crowd wherever they go...that crowd might not fill Madison Square Garden, but it'll definitely fill up CBGB's.
If you're looking for a hardcore disc that pulls zero punches, and really inspire you to kick the shit out of your neighbor's dog, pick up Nothing In Vain and drop kick a poodle.
