BillyBio – Leaders And Liars
Release Date: 25th February 2022
Label: AFM Records
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Genre: Hardcore, Punk, Metal.
FFO: Biohazard, Cro-Mags, Agnostic Front.
Review By: Trina Julian Edwards
Billy Graziadei is best known as the vocalist/guitarist for New York band Biohazard, who came to prominence in the 90s for their genre-defying mix of styles ranging from hardcore to hip-hop. Although the band hasn’t released an album since 2012’s Reborn In Defiance, Graziadei hasn’t let the grass grow under his feet. In 2016, Graziadei turned his talents towards L.A.’s heavy metal outfit, PowerFlo, for whom he plays rhythm guitar and shares vocalist duties. In 2018, he announced his new solo project, BillyBio, and released his debut album, Feed The Fire. The success of his first effort prompted Graziadei to begin work writing the second BillyBio album, Leaders And Liars, which will be released on March 25 by AFM Records. Graziadei is once again backed by PowerFlo drummer Fred Aching Rios, Suicidal Tendencies bassist Ra Diaz, Death By Stereo / Zebrahead guitarist Dan Palmer, and The Exploited guitarist Robbie Davidson.
The first track, Blackout, begins with siren-like distortion and Graziadei yelling, “you push me over the edge…” There are more overtly metal elements in this track, particularly notable in the longer riffs during the slower-tempo sections, although the hardcore rhythms are also present in smaller doses. Fallen Empires might make you think it was an EDM tune, until Graziadei tears in with a crazy, bendy guitar solo, numerous stylistic transitions, and rapid vocals not unlike what you’d find in nu-metal.
The title track, Leaders and Liars, is a straightforward punk rock anthem railing against the 1%. Lost Horizon strolls in with ambient sounds and a disembodied voice speaking about the nature of fear. The following onslaught is fast and furious, but there are some nice dynamics and a few groovy little sections to break it up. Startlingly, there is also some uneven clean singing in the latter third that’s mildly off-putting, and doesn’t really serve the song.
Turn the Wounds is a standout track, beginning with a slow, old school heavy metal intro before kicking into the rapid-fire rhythm hardcore fans know and love. Graziadei’s vocals are top-notch here, and the lyrics, “I gotta turn these wounds into wisdom // don’t let your actions be guided by fear…” are hopeful as well as powerful. This is followed by Sheepdog, a short, instrumental interlude with spoken words exhorting listeners not to blindly believe anything they read or hear in any media, but to verify its truth for themselves. Deception is another track that hits a bit more radio-friendly, but it’s full of catchy melodies, plenty of punk energy, and the solos are exceptionally good.
Generation Kill is an aggressive hardcore hitter, but the clean backing vocals and slower melodic sections give it some appealing variation. Looking Up is a hooky number about pulling yourself up by your bootstraps and making the best of things. Graziadei did some particularly good work here, matching the musical themes to the lyrical ones. One Life to Live comes roaring in directly after, and although it is a shorter track, it’s chock–full of punk liveliness and spirit. Our Scene sounds like a typical love letter to the hardcore scene, complete with chants and galloping rhythms to get the blood flowing. The nostalgia is high in this one, especially for fellow X’ers who share Graziadei’s fondness for the scene.
Just in the Sun is a short, slow interlude with ambient sounds, acoustic guitar, and layered female and male spoken words and vocals. While the story of feeling unsure and insecure is one that will resonate with listeners, the song sounds like it stumbled onto the wrong album. Luckily, Enough jumps straight back in to that hardcore groove, keeping you on your toes with the constant tempo changes. Bizarrely, this is followed by Remission, another short, confusing interlude with distorted piano, electronic beats, and a female vocalist continually warbling, “remission…” The album concludes with Cyanide, which drops in with a slower, almost industrial-like intro before throwing down with more of a straight rock and roll swagger.
Overall, BillyBio continues in the genre-defying tradition of Biohazard. Graziadei’s love for punk, hardcore, and metal is woven throughout the album, and his signature hardcore vocal style sets BillyBio apart from the rest. Likewise, the heartfelt lyrical themes are both personal and, at times, powerful. Taken as a whole, Leaders And Liars is a fun mix of tunes that are all generally good, if unremarkable. For Biohazard fans and fans of the hardcore genre in general, it’s certainly worth checking out.
(3.5 / 5)
