Rating: 5/5 stars

North Carolina hardcore punk band Magnitude (“The Truth You See”) has gripped the attention of the hardcore scene ever since their debut album “To Whatever Fateful End” was released four years ago. Their music is heavy with powerful instruments and even more powerful lyrics. When playing live, groups of kids storm the stage and pile on top of each other to belt the lyrics into the mic. In June, Magnitude released an outstanding new single “Rectify.” This was only the start, as they soon later announced their sophomore album “Of Days Renewed.” When the day arised Magnitude did not fail, “Of Days Renewed,” released on Triple B records, runs 19 minutes long with a total of eight songs. The members of Magnitude produced the entirety of the album themselves, recording at various different studios and at their own houses.

 When first listening through, it is hard not to realize how polished the whole album is. Each song strikes a chord, especially the title track “Of Days Renewed.” In a press release for Stereogum, singer Russell Bussey said it is a song for anyone who feels lost, broken or hopeless.

 “We are all destined to experience dark times in our lives,” Bussey said. “I wanted to write a song pulling from some of the darkest times I’ve made it through and incorporate some of the thoughts that pushed me forward. To me, ‘dreaming of days renewed’ is transfixing on a dream of better days and using that dream to push you through the darkness. It’s a commitment to yourself to continue pushing forward until the end.”

 Magnitude writes for their fans and it is apparent in their songs, and this contributes to their success and loyal fan base. “Of Days Renewed” really puts the “hard” in hardcore with the instruments working all together to create a seismic sound along with the breakdowns in each song really shows how hardcore is done.

The album flows perfectly from song to song. It is an aggressive chug fest from top to bottom. Magnitude does not stray from their roots, they still keep the swagger of the ‘90s hardcore style, with the bulky grooves and high-energy two-step breakdowns. They seamlessly switch between the metal style to the fast-paced aggressiveness of hardcore. It shows the diversity of their playing and when everything is put together, it creates that sound that makes the experience so powerful. 

Bussey’s vocals particularly stand out with his shouty style of singing, a polarizing aspect of the band. No one can deny his abilities to command a crowd with his mic-grabbing hooks, like “I still believe” in the third track “Through Trials,” or “I long to be set free and feel beyond despair” in “Beyond Despair” which follows.

It is these lines that show the overarching themes of this album, the idea of committing to oneself and finding a way through the struggles in life. Pushing through everything life hands you and knowing that in the end it will be worth it. The messages are timeless and in Magnitude’s hand, they will remain deeply impactful and motivational. Magnitude have cemented themselves already as one of the best straight edge hardcore bands in the world and “Of Days Renewed” backs that up with force and conviction.

Image from Magnitude via Twitter.com