Gallows — Orchestra Of Wolves

You know those moments where you hear a band and everything just clicks instantly? Those times when you're banging your head and shaking your fist to a song you're hearing for the first time? Fans of hardcore are guaranteed to experience this during their first spin of Orchestra Of Wolves. Gallows hail from the U.K., but have a distinctly Texan swagger to their sound, blending spastic punk with southern rock — all served with a healthy dose of ADD. An ever-present Drive Like Jehu influence is filtered through early Blood Brothers singles and the entire Pluto Records roster to make for a seriously devastating mindfuck of a listen. They even throw some keyboards into the mix, used to great effect on "Rolling With The Punches" and the album's best cut, "In The Belly Of A Shark." The North American version comes with three extra tracks, so there's plenty to love on one of the finest hardcore releases of the year.