Rated X – United Front

After two ferocious demos brimming to the rim with righteous straight-edge fury, Rated X returns with a vengeance on their first full-length album, United Front. If aggressive, old-school hardcore infused with stomping UK ’82 influences and unapologetic straight-edge attitude is your thing, this record will instantly rank among the year’s best releases.

Rated X is the brainchild of Tom Pimmlott, a one-man hardcore powerhouse who has been a cornerstone of the New Wave of British Hardcore. With a résumé that includes Violent Reaction, Arms Race, The Flex, True Vision, Obstruct, and more, Tom’s influence on the UK scene is undeniable. United Front is yet another proof to his ability to channel hardcore’s spirit into relentlessly tight and authentic antifascist hardcore punk.

This record delivers a dirty dozen of blistering tracks, blending the speed and aggression of classic ’80s hardcore (think The Abused, SSD, Straight Ahead) with crushing breakdowns that hit like a squad of rowdy English football hooligans. The riffs are razor-sharp, the pace is unrelenting, and the straight edge ethos burns bright in every shouted lyric and stomping rhythm.

Pimmlott’s mastery of the genre’s core elements ensures that every track is punch to the gut, yet crafted with precision and purpose. From start to finish, the album is lean, mean, and unapologetically hardcore. For fans of the New Wave of British Hardcore or anyone craving the classic straight edge fury, Rated X has taken the tried-and-true formula and executed it to perfection. Don’t sleep on this—grab it now and blast it loud. XXX