Baltimore straight edge hardcore unit Mindset have delivered a concise and robust swansong with their EP Nothing Less — much like 2012's memorable full length Leave No Doubt, their final EP draws heavily from genre staples like Youth of Today and Judge in terms of form and structure and, despite its brevity, makes every minute count.
The title track opens the EP with a brooding, pit-ready build-up of measured guitar chugs and scattered toms before the rest of the band drops in, building in speed as Evan Wivell's distinctive bark comes in at the verse to the song together before it drops into a hard-hitting two step at the end. "We're Right" follows in the same vein, keeping the energy consistent with emphatic gang vocals and breakneck pacing.
Mindset get progressively more aggressive throughout Nothing Less, ending with "Effigy," a stripped-down and utterly visceral conclusion. It's fitting for a band who, throughout their career, have delivered a number of valuable contributions to the new wave of hardcore — all of which have shared the energy and vitality found here.
(React)The title track opens the EP with a brooding, pit-ready build-up of measured guitar chugs and scattered toms before the rest of the band drops in, building in speed as Evan Wivell's distinctive bark comes in at the verse to the song together before it drops into a hard-hitting two step at the end. "We're Right" follows in the same vein, keeping the energy consistent with emphatic gang vocals and breakneck pacing.
Mindset get progressively more aggressive throughout Nothing Less, ending with "Effigy," a stripped-down and utterly visceral conclusion. It's fitting for a band who, throughout their career, have delivered a number of valuable contributions to the new wave of hardcore — all of which have shared the energy and vitality found here.