Blaring guitar riffs, heavy bass and fast-paced drum combinations flood into your ears before the angry screams of Sal LoCoco kick in to complete the sound of Sworn Enemy, the newest and most well respected band from the underground New York hardcore scene. Produced by Hatebreed front-man Jamey Jasta, Sworn Enemy's first full-length album As Real as it Gets hopes to carry the torch for other acts that paved the way such as Agnostic Front, Madball, Biohazard and of course, Hatebreed.

The band's lineup consists of Sal LoCoco taking care of the vocals, Mike Raffinello and Lorenzo Antonucci on guitars, Mike Couls jamming the bass and Paulie Antignani adding his special touch on drums.

Making music since the mid '90s, Sworn Enemy started off in Queens with LoCoco, Raffinello and Antonucci performing under the name Mindset. Once the other members signed on, the group gained their current name and sound, releasing an EP and touring extensively before the release of this album. The band now makes an unoriginal but decent version of hardcore music that can be compared to enjoying a beating upside the head.

Hardcore music is typically a mutant form of punk, equally simplistic in musical structure. However, hardcore differentiates itself by usually incorporates heavy use of double bass pedals and screaming, as opposed to gruff singing or whining vocals.

There is no confusing Sworn Enemy's sound with anything divergent from straight hardcore. Unlike many bands of the day, they don't fuse other genres such as metal or emo into their music. One can conclude that listening to Sworn Enemy will only be an enjoyable experience for one who appreciates this particular niche of music. Simply put, if you're looking for melody, you won't find it here.

Despite the gruffness and simplicity of many facets of their music, Sworn Enemy does have depth in their lyrical content. Most of the words uttered by LoCoco are angry and aggressive, yet reflective and deeply meaningful.

The self-titled first track discusses in roaring detail their frustration and distaste for terrorists. The song, inspired by the events of Sept. 11, 2001, says "You pray for pain, my design is not built that way/follow the leader and see what you get/suffering is secondary/ sworn, sworn enemy of the human race."

Another track, "These Tears," is more thoughtful as it goes, "Open the doors, knowledge is key/You have the power to fulfill your destiny/ the actions of a man speak greater than words/ through your voice I shall be heard."

Overall, Sworn Enemy have a lot to offer to those who appreciate and live the hardcore scene. They play an intense form of jarring music that is well-respected in certain circles.

What the band doesn't have is the ability to take this style of music further and touch more people than those already deeply set in the hardcore scene. Sworn Enemy just doesn't appear the have the musical ability to push their songs to a new level.

Every song on their album displays the same types of riffs, pace, time, and structure. There is little divergence from that formula and thus little versatility.

Whether that is a personal choice to satisfy hardcore fans, or simply because they do not possess the ability of more well-received bands, I cannot say. Overall, I enjoyed listening to Sworn Enemy, although I would not recommend them to anybody else whom I didn't already know would appreciate their edgier style.