Artist: Easy Money
Title: Rules of the Game
Label: Beatdown Hardware
Reviewed by: Jeff
In early 2016, Arizona's Easy Money unleashed their debut record Midas Touch and quickly became one of the most talked about bands in hardcore. One of the main things that sets them apart from their peers is their blatant disregard for trends and preconceived notions of what hardcore should sound/look like. This is a band that 100% does their OWN thing and honestly it's quite refreshing. Thankfully, this continues on Rules of the Game.
Much like their debut, Rules of the Game is chock full of groove oriented metallic hardcore that forms the core of the bands sound. However, Easy Money successfully EXPANDS on that sound this time around by adding elements of grunge and stoner rock to the fray. A great example of this is the opening track entitled "The Score". This song starts with a riff that wouldn't sound out of place on a Bulldoze record then immediately transitions into a straight up Black Sabbath/Saviours sounding stoner part directly into a Trapped Under Ice-ish groove part. This all takes place within the first 35 seconds of the record! In my opinion, these quick transitions are one of the key ingredients to Easy Money's sound. Right when you get comfortable, they frequently change things up out of nowhere. This makes for a fun record that warrants repeated listens. Another highlight is "Easy Target" which features a guest spot by Eric Hula. This track continues their newly established stoner rock influence and mixes it with grunge and hardcore in a really cool way. Additionally, Rules of the Game features some HARD mosh parts that are sure to go over well in a live setting(my favorite is the one that happens at 2:15 during "The Score").
Another enjoyable element of this record is the production quality. The instruments and vocals are impeccably mixed so they ALL have a big impact on the record. Oftentimes, hardcore records are recorded/mixed in a way that doesn't properly represent all of the instruments. This is especially common with newer bands. Thankfully, Rules of the Game doesn't fall prey to this. Beyond that, this record is a short enough that it doesn't wear out its welcome.
VERDICT- Easy Money pulled out all the stops with Rules of the Game. They took some risks by adding new elements to their core sound and it paid off. They did this while still staying true to the sound that propelled them to their current position. All in all, I would highly recommend checking this record out.
Top Tracks - THE WHOLE FUCKIN' THING
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