It was a retirement that would have made Michael Jordan proud. Only two years after deciding to break up, disillusioned with the hardcore scene they decided was stagnant,
Strife reunited for some benefit concerts in early 2000 and the members found that the missing spark that had led to the band's untimely demise had returned. This is the first disc for the band since the re-formation, and it's obvious from the first listen that the spark grew into a raging inferno once rediscovered. Always unafraid to mix metallic sensibilities into their sound, that side of the group is explored even further on Angermeans. The appropriately monikered opener, "Rise Again," suggests the ripping riffery of
Cro-Mags' "Death Camps," while the likes of "Life Stained Red" and "Stripped Away" could be mistaken for a
Slayer outtake. "Angel Wings" is near death metal. None of this should be considered a bad thing. Metal and hardcore have always been allies, and as pop started to take over the underground punk scene, the influence of artists such as
Agnostic Front seemed to wane, possibly a reason for
Strife's previous exit. Angermeans is not just a comeback for the band, it's a long-overdue kick in the butt for a whole movement as well. ~ Brian O'Neill