Trapped Under Ice, "Secrets of the World"

Trapped Under Ice
"Secrets of the World"
(Reaper Records)


In my naivete, I always presumed Baltimore to be a quaint settlement. Something resembling Barry Levinson's Diner populated with the blue-collar sports heritage of Johnny Unitas and Cal Ripken, Jr. Then I saw The Wire and was introduced to the harsh antithesis that exists on the other side of the tracks. Resident hardcore upstarts Trapped Under Ice pair, in an ironic sense, nicely with a city characterized by violence, corruption and unrest. Their debut full length, Secrets of the World, feels like a direct product of the environment. More specifically, it's a nihilistic and hateful response to a life which has provided little else besides adversity. Society, backstabbers, God, the hopeless daily grind - total bollocks. Laughably cliche in theory? Most definitely. But the truth is that this band pulls off burning rage with conviction. They're also heavy as fuck, which always helps.

There's a certain griminess about TUI which separates them from the many hardcore bands shamelessly whoring on Front St. for mosh pit calisthenics (although such an activity is certainly appropriate here). Think Blood For Blood or Set It Off-era Madball, both in terms of style and all-around intimidating realness. Well, they aren't that hard - who is? Still, I wouldn't want to find these dudes on the opposing end of a donnybrook. The point is that this is no overbearing dog and pony show. Or as the old saying goes, you can't fake the funk. Then again, when a band takes their name from a classic Metallica song, to come correct is a must. If you're tired of waiting for new Guns Up! or Bitter End albums, Secrets of the World is where it's at. TUI will run you through. (Vogelism was unintentional but nonetheless fitting.)



-- Dave Woods