Madball Slams Into Melbourne

Madball Live at The Boondocks                                                                                                  w/Vietnom DMS, Prevail, Coldside and Rhthym of Fear                                              Friday, Feruary 19, Melbourne FL

by Randy Raie

Welcome to the hardcore! Once again The Boondocks Live hosts another amazing show. This time with the brutal

Coldside

vibrancy of NYC hardcore vets Madball, headlining along with a special guest. Friday, 2/19/16, was a solid 4 band set of loud, raw, and intense music with a crowd ready to give their ears, fists, and sweat.

Many familiar faces began pouring in as the first group of the night, Prevail out of North Port, FL, was setting up. With 5 years under their belt, Prevail started off the show with explosive power chords and vocals that brought emotion to the stage. Next, Jacksonville hardcore Rhythm of Fear, gathered upon the stage with long hair, fast-paced sound, and a “take a hit to the face and like it” attitude. Then Coldside, the only true locals of the night, came up as the proper openers to the headliner. These guys pull together like a powerhouse of allstars. With each member coming from deep roots of their own long road on this scene of E.C.H.C., Coldside has become an underground name with their punk hardcore sound that will move your feet.

Just as the crowd was amping up, Madball’s brothers in arms took the stage. Vietnam DMS grabbed the mic and let Melbourne know what E.C.H.C. was all about. Family. It only comes from those unfamiliar with this scene, but hardcore has a stigma of violence and hate. When you actually listen to the lyrics you’ll find positive motivation with extremely strong ties to your fellow man. This message comes with aggression, purity, and hard work which bands like Vietnam DMS and Madball can portray with totality. The crowd was already in a roar when frontman Freddy

Cricien jumped on stage. It wasn’t long after that I had to quit taking pictures and duck a few flying fists. Cricien was all over the stage bringing us songs from their ’14 album, Hardcore Lives, along with old favorites. I was really glad to catch these guys before their tour through Europe.

Madball has continuously brought breakdown-heavy hardcore and has one of the most recognizable sounds in the scene. Having stayed true to their roots since 1988, these NYCHC veterans delivered Madball true old school tunes and one hell of a party.