Now, an Italian hardcore outfit that decides to start off a CD with a cool, upbeat version of Johnny Cash’s Ring of Fire has to be a bit unusual. The thing is, it turns out that Hatework aren’t that unusual when it comes down to it. Though sporting fine amounts of energy and good rocking hardcore, there’s little new under the sun.

On top of that, this release consists of recordings from other releases or live material, some of the material dating back to 1999. This in effect means that there are varying qualities of production. I’m not sure if I should consider this a best-of of sorts? Kinda hard with a band you never heard of before.

Some of the material strongly hints at D.R.I., some at N.Y. Hardcore, and in one instance even Tankard (the Thrash’n’Roll material from 2004)(!), and that’s all very nice, but I’m left with the feeling that I’d rather be presented to a new, sharp release from Hatework and that this is just a transitory release.