 The last time Pro-Pain and I crossed paths was on their 1992 debut Foul Taste Of Freedom. Since then these New York bruisers have recorded another seven albums and played over 2000 shows.
In the last eleven years Pro-Pain's sound has not progressed one inch. A problem? Not likely; Pro-Pain are very, very good at what they do, and that's the metal-punk hybrid that's more commonly known as New York hardcore.
As its name suggests, Run For Cover is a covers album, pure and simple. But in a scene obsessed with old school values, Run For Cover is a perfect way to show some respect to the bands that Pro-Pain feel kinship towards. Hence we've got songs by hardcore stalwarts Negative Approach and Agnostic Front (Nothing and Your Mistake), British punk legends Discharge and GBH (Never Again and Knife Edge) and pivotal metallers Motorhead, Sepultura and Slayer (with Iron Fist, Refuse/Resist and South Of Heaven).
Chuck in a few curios from the likes of Operation Ivy (whose Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman went on to form Rancid), the Crumbsuckers (NYHC legends formed by Pro-Pain frontman Gary Meskil in the early 80s) and the fabulous Life Of Agony (who ended up poaching drummer Dan Richardson from the Pro-Pain ranks) and you should have a good insight into what makes Pro-Pain tick. For the most part it works; the chugging guitars of Eric Klinger and Tom Klimchuck may only have one gear, but it's the only gear they need.
On the other hand, Meskil obviously reveres some of these tracks a little too much, as instead of stamping them with the Pro-Pain sound he does his best to ape the original vocalists. His Keith Caputo is passable, his Max Cavalera is good, but his Lemmy impression is uncanny, suggesting a misspent youth with bathroom mirrors, tennis racquets and Iron Fist cranked up to eleven. :: Rowan Shaeffer |
