Cost of Living
Cost of Living makes Incendiary's metallic hardcore feel direct and substantial. The guitars have a heavy, cutting character, but the band give the rhythms enough movement to avoid a constant blur of distortion. Brendan Garrone's voice brings another clear point of focus. The record is convincing through the strength of its execution, even when individual songs become less easy to separate.
Zeitgeist begins with a gradual build before the heavier performance takes over. The guitar and rhythm section establish a firm foundation, giving the vocal a strong setting for its more aggressive delivery. It is a clear introduction to the record's weight and controlled pace.
Primitive Rage increases the pressure. Its riffs and forceful breakdown create an immediate sense of attack, with Garrone's delivery matching the heavier playing. The band's metal influences add a sharper edge without removing the rhythmic connection that holds the song together.
The Power Process gives its recurring guitar ideas a strong sense of movement. The rhythm makes the riffs easy to follow, showing how the band can create an effective hook through the instruments rather than depending entirely on the voice.
Snake offers another useful point of interest. Its opening bass line remains clearly audible within the arrangement, while a memorable guitar part helps distinguish the song. The measured pace gives the heavier sound room to make an impression.
The playing is a strength across the record. The drums contribute their own details instead of simply tracing each riff, and the bass has enough presence to feel like an active part of the performance. Those qualities give the songs more character than their broad structure might suggest.
The limits appear across the complete sequence. A similar pace and recurring arrangement choices can make parts of the album feel interchangeable. Several songs are more effective as individual bursts of force than as sharply different stages in a longer record.
Even so, Cost of Living is a strong example of how much careful playing can bring to a familiar style. Its riffs, vocal delivery and rhythmic detail work closely together. More variety would improve the full album, but the strongest songs already have enough character to stand on their own.
