SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PREVAIL – PREVAIL

PREVAIL
PREVAIL
BROKEN SOUND TAPES

Ah, the sweet sound of nostalgia. Broken Sound Tapes is hitting rewind on the ‘90s, bringing back the hardcore tunes of Prevail with a cassette that’s sure to hit the rewind button. It’s like a time machine for your ears, without the risk of accidentally erasing your favourite guitar solo with a misplaced magnet. So, dust off that Walkman; it’s time to party like it’s 1999 . . . or 1998, to be exact. Cassette Week 2024 is about to get a blast from the past, one side at a time. Rock on!

It was a somewhat awkward time for screamo, heavy-hitting with a tumultuous delivery – it’s not what the ‘90s are affectionately known for. Still, Prevail delivers unique elements that stand out as a significant influence on today’s subgenres. Straight from Myrtle Beach, SC, Prevail’s self-titled album plays as an excellent example of bridging the gap across a generation that reeked of grunge and alternative. Interestingly enough, that’s the feel for the cover art as well: a butterfly, with a chaotic background, settled on a hand adorned in heavy silver jewellery. It’s all so . . . metal.

It’s a partial album; Prevail is six songs deep at a total play of eight minutes. However, it’s an arterial bleed-overload, a pulsating bloodbath, exhausting and intoxicating at the same time. This album is a ferocious release; it’s so rapid and eventful that it is ideally suited. “Burn” and “Dominion” are my track choices, and I think it comes from the pulsating beats. Each track is unique, and although I find myself getting lost in the trajectory of hardcore, I did not find this to be the case with Prevail. Short and sweet, it will turn that frown upside down—or vice versa—whatever the need.

Be quick! With only 40 tapes, relive that ‘90s dream!

Artist Links