Review by Jack on April 11, 2003.

Hardcore. It's a weird sub strain in the metal world. People often dismiss it mindlessly for punk, not really willing to give it a shot. My experiences with hardcore (nowhere near as extensive as metal) have been all pretty good. From my perspective, I haven't really come across a weak band that dish up any filler material. Harkonen and their latest album "Shake Harder Boy" are no exception and are possibly one of the more appropriate bands out there if you have a hankering for hardcore; nothing less, nothing more.

Harkonen have been around the Washington State scene for quite some years (having first released a demo in 1996). They seem to go about their craft with a no-nonsense attitude, providing songs on "Shake Harder Boy" that are straight-up hardcore. The riffs are heavy and thick, the rhythm section provides ample support and variation to make each song interesting and enjoyable to listen to. Vocally, is perhaps where Harkonen is found a little bit wanting. Harkonen's vocalist is a top-notch singer for his style, but I really think they could lift their work to the next level with a strong variation in start vocal contrasts.

Bottom Line: Aside from a bit of monotony with Harkonen's vocalist, they are pretty good act and "Shake Harder Boy" is a no-brainer to recommend to a longtime hardcore fan. New or casual fans would also find some good moments on "Shake Harder Boy."

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 7
Atmosphere: 6
Production: 7
Originality: 7
Overall: 7

Rating: 6.8 out of 10