It’s been rumbling in the underground for a while: a hardcore super group in the making. An all star line-up if you wish. With Merauder (Jorge Rosado), Skarhead (Mitts), Earth Crisis (Ian Edwards) and Hatebreed (Rigg Ross) on your band’s resume you can truly speak of a super group. Does that make up for quality hardcore?

IT DOES! Too often so called super groups translate rehearsal room fun into an album; do a short tour and mainly disappoint fans. Not Rag Men. With Rosado at the helm and Mitts, Rigg Ross (both also in Madball) and Ian Edwards backing him up in serving nine pointy hardcore tracks, filtering influences from old school, metal core and some Life Of Agony type melodies this album truly hits a nerve.

Rag Men truly has the potential to break the barriers of hardcore purism. It’s fresh, inspirational but above all this is great premium hardcore.

The not so typical and at times melodic guitar lines force Rosado to give it all he’s got. Without having to go clean, and he manages to use his voice the way he does best: loud. Not difficult to discover the fun and eagerness on this album: even with so much experience and years of service in the scene. Tracks like “Insomnia”, “Obstacles” and “Tierra” give you no choice but to climb on the stage monitors and sing along. Check this band out. For US fans: the album will be released through Eulogy in February.