Mixing the cruel, urban sounds of the seedy underbelly of American life with poetic lyrics and sarcastic wit, Harvest are the latest band to emerge from the turmoils of angst and oppression to rise above their personal demons to deliver one hell of a ride. They've been backed into a corner and have had to claw their way out. It would be safe to say that they burn...and the burn is a beautiful one. "Epicure" tinges your spinal column with metallic guitar riffage as Dave lets loose with an aural assault on your ears: "This time it means war/ I won't let you neglect your fate." The rhythm section thunders through the riffage, making this an outstanding opener. "Cessation" starts off slower than a conveyor belt, but, has such a powerful impact on your senses that you don't even notice the lack of thunder and lightning that you'd usually hear on a Harvest song. The vocals add to the dynamics of this song, making it one of the best things I've heard in a long time: "Endure/ Divide/ Let the pain intensify." This song is very good...to say the least. "Waterfall" kicks your ass before you even know what hit you. The tempo changes and "Burn My Eyes" era Machine Head style guitar work, along with another powerful vocal performance by Dave, make this song cook. The vocals are really impressive, much like the rest of this song. I'd venture to say that this is tied for the album's best song, along with "Cessation". "Soul Burn" has an intro that is very pleasing to the senses, mixing a thundering rhythm section with killer guitar sounds. This song is very heavy, bordering on metal and can best be described as an all-out attack on your ears. "Right of the Damned" features Harvest's fast, heavy sound, paced by the prominent drumming of Ian and the tightness of his interaction with Jonas. This song just pummels you, like a wave of freezing cold water. Unrelenting. Aggressive. Furious. I like it...a lot. On the all-so-earth shattering Matt scale, I give Harvest an 8 out of 10. This is very good. I like when bands can write deep, meaningful lyrics and have the musical ability to back it up. Check out the lyrics on "Auburn": "Buried beneath this skin" and "Built by thoughts that lie to withstand this life." Whoa! This is some heavy shit! Excellent job,guys. If you ever have the chance to pick up this CD, I wouldn't think twice about plunking down the cash for it.

Does the title of the 7" refer to one step closer to end of this band? Who knows? All that I know is that one of the best bands around decided to quit after all these years. I think that's a pity especially after the release of this amazing 7". This is absolutely Harvest at their best! Four heavy pounding and technical sounding songs that don't lack on power, energy and most important of all originality, have to make us forget about this this great band. I still don't understand why this band didn't make it over to Europe. Unfortunately they're one of the most under rated bands in our part of the world and that's a shame. I'm glad to see 'em play a couple of shows so that I can at least tell people how great this band was. Make sure that you keep your eyes wide open for the new band consisting three of the Harvest members and one of the Extinction guitar players. I've heard from a confidential source that the first four songs sound like Meshuggah mixed up with the hardcore power of a band like Snapcase and the craziness of Converge. But as far as this final Harvest record goes all I can say is to get a copy of it because this is without a doubt one of the best records that came out last year.

This is my favorite band that plays the "chuga chuga" style of hardcore.  This is highly metallic hardcore with plenty of breakdowns. Straightfoward music, dark lyrics, and brutal vocals make up this album.  There are no curve balls thrown here, Harvest play straight up metal hardcore.  The vocals sound a lot like Karl from Earth Crisis, but a little more harsh.  This is like a best of with only the first four tracks being new material, but its well worth the money to buy this album.  This is one of my favorite releases of '98, and is definately worth a look.  If you're looking for a metal hardcore cd don't pass this up.

Well, this record came out a while ago, but it's too good not to review. This CD is a compilation of all the stuff that Harvest has put out throughout the years, which includes all their compilation tracks, the Worn Through The Layers of Separation 7 inch, the Incision 7 inch, and the four newest songs they released on the 7 inch version of this recording. First of all, the four new harvest songs are such an improvement over any of the songs off of the Living With a God Complex record, which was quite amazing. The new songs, are a lot heavier, and have a lot more crunch to them than anything off of the last LP. The other songs on this record are also quite interesting, because it shows how diverse a band like Harvest can be like, and how they've progressed as a band. Songs on this record range from being almost emo metal songs to being the old-fashioned knock you on your ass Harvest songs. I definitely recommend this record to anyone who enjoys brutal/original sounding hardcore, or if you're a fan of Harvest, as everyone should be.

This is extremely brutal hardcore out of Minneapolis, Minnesota, complete with an evil sounding singer belting out his vocal harshness on a total of four new songs (paired here with songs from various previously released singles that are more than likely hard to find). It's this powerful singing style that really drives Transitions, but the really fucking mad metal riffs that bow and flex around the intelligent lyrics are nothing to be scoffed at either. Tough sounding without utilizing dirge or a double kick drum - just sheer musical (and vocal) shrapnel. It's nice to see this stuff coming out of the Midwest.

It would be really difficult for Harvest to top "Living With A God Complex," their debut full length, which was easily one of the best albums of 1997. So, rather than trying to beat themselves, the band switches gears a little bit. This new record features four brand new songs, as well as a back catalog of Harvest's earlier EP and comp material (hence the name of the record.) This change makes Harvest sound a little more slick and streamlined, a little faster too. Harvest's label, Trustkill, prefers to call the band's new sound "catchier," which to me means that they are not the first band to play some of the riffs on the new songs, but, whatever. Dave Walker's vocals are still huge and aggressive, which is cool, but I can't help but shiver when I hear the drawn out grooves and inhuman howls of Harvest's yesteryear. There is a healthy does of the old stuff on the second half of this disc, which is good because my verdict is still out on the new stuff. I have always appreciated Harvest not shoving their ethics down my throat, but rather making me listen to the lyrics and making me think about them for a minute. One might recognize a faster and higher tuned version of 'Virtue' (from their full length) on this disc, and it gives one a good idea of the transitions this band has exacted in their four year existence.

I gotta admit...The first time I heard Harvest, I wasn't all too impressed. Then I listened to more and more of the band's material...Then I saw them live. Then I came to the conclusion that Harvest rocks. This is really good metallic hardcore from the Twin Cities. Of course, you know these guys because almost every new band of this style worships them. They broke up now, but get it anyway. Feed your hardcore/metal need!

I don't know how I managed to get this past Kent. This is one of the best things I've heard in a long time. For those of you who have never heard them, Harvest plays the metal-influenced, chugga-hardcore, but unlike most who do so, Harvest plays it well. Good start-stops, great screamy vocals. I have listened to this time and time and time again since I got it. This cd contains 4 new songs and contains a bunch more off of various comps, 7", etc. Good good good.

Playing heavy, metal-influenced hardcore can be trite. There are many bands playing the style, and most of them are bad. As a result, any band attempting to play this music faces a difficult challenge. To succeed, or have any relevance in the scheme of any music or cultural scenario, the band must have an aspect of their music that is innovative. If one wants to listen to Bloodlet, then one will listen to Bloodlet. Unless another band can take what they have done and create songs that have the same heavy, noisy aspects, yet add a talented vocalist and incredible work on the guitar. This CD is great, because it includes older songs that allow the listener to track the band's progression. And more importantly, the band's ability to take a style of music that is very derivative and produce creative and original songs.

Harvest's newest release, Transitions, is comprised of four new songs, a new rhythm section, a few unreleased tracks and a couple of seven-inches all remixed for your listening pleasure. The four new songs represent a growth in both ability and maturity, and are heavier, catchier, and faster than anything Harvest has ever done before. All the while distancing themselves from the previous "more Bloodlet than Bloodlet" mentality. The older remixed material shows Harvest's past. Slow, evil riffs, a truly distraught vocalist and plodding rhythms, owing much to the aforementioned Bloodlet, but more focused and less meandering than those hatecore heroes. With Transitions, Harvest has offered a glimpse of their future, one that should see them become one of the best new hardcore/metal bands around.

Transitions is an interesting disc... especially if you're already a fan of Minneapolis, Minnesota's Harvest. What you have with Transitions is four new tracks coupled with remixes of compilation appearances and some 7" tracks. The remixes breathe new life and depth into the older tracks on the CD, and the entire package conveniently places everything Harvest that you may not have had in the past in one easy to find place. However, it's the new songs on Transitions that really make this CD important, and a must purchase. Seriously heavy hardcore with a groove. If you liked Harvest before, you'll be nothing but impressed with the new material. If you haven't heard Harvest yet, now's your chance... and you will be astounded.

Intensity is the word. Pure intensity. Harvest pulls no punches on "Transitions," making this record a concise attack of metallic hardcore. Like a ball-peen hammer strike to the head, this band takes a focused approach to its caustic sound. "Transitions" is destined to be an important album for fans of seriously heavy music and strong musicianship. The band clearly draws a strong influence from the Slayer school of hard-assed riffing, and the vocals are raw as lemon juice in an open wound. Simply put, an excellent hardcore album.