BOARDERS
Boarders - The World Hates Me (Retroactive) 2009
1. "True Rebellion” (3:57)
2. "Baptized With Fire” (3:53)
3. "Schmertzgarten” (4:25)
4. "Never Alone” (4:22)
5. "In My Darkest Hour” ( 6:16)
6. "Jump For Joy” ( 4:12)
7. "For What It’s Worth” (3:07)
8. "Deliver You Back To Hell” (4:13)
9. "W.P.D.” ( 3:25)
10. "Till Life Do Us One” ( 3:57)
11. "The World Hates Me” (5:24)
Boarders are an Italian heavy metal band that are a hybrid of styles. "The World Hates Me" features a blending of melodic sensibilities and aggressive thrash influences. Songs like "Schmertzgarten" and "Deliver You Back To Hell" showcase the bands thrash and speed metal influences. The band wears their influences on their sleeve at times, and even play tribute to one of their biggest influences with a cover of Megadeth's "In My Darkest Hour". However, a more melodic aspect to the band is showcased on the straightforward metal direction taken on songs like "True Rebellion" and "Jump For Joy". With these songs, Boarders has more in common with AC/DC than they do with Megadeth and Metallica. On other songs like "Baptized With Fire" the band successfully mixes both styles together.
Vocalist Egi has a good range and does well on both the thrash and traditional metal numbers. Album opener "True Rebellion" has Egi signing in a high range, with a slight bit of grit in his voice. On my first listen I was reminded of an Australian band that was quite popular last year called Airbourne. "Never Alone" is the one ballad on the album. This melancholy song features female vocalist Mariangelo Scafati sharing lead vocals duties. Eli gives an incredible vocal performance on this song, belting out a high pitched scream towards the end of the song that would rival Geoff Tate in his prime. For the heavier numbers such as "For What It's Worth" Egi adds more harshness to his voice, almost sounding like a different singer. On "Baptized with Fire", where Boarders melds together their thrash and classic metal influences, Egi's vocals give the band a sound not unlike some of the great speed metal bands of the past like Agent Steel, Realm and Toxik. Guitarist Gigi lays down some choice chops and catchy riffs that makes the melding of styles work well together.
"The World Hates Me" was originally released in 2007 on independent German label Quam Libet. The CD was finally made available in the US in January of 2009 by Retroactive Records.