Album review: Grove Street – The Path To Righteousness

After dropping the ‘Families’ from their name and signing a deal with UNFD, Grove Street have decided to pull up their big boy trousers, tie up their shoelaces and deliver a debut album made to deliver a Mortal Kombat-style knockout blow.

On their previous EPs, we found a band using their love of PlayStation games, especially Grand Theft Auto, to set a solid yet almost goofy foundation to their hardcore sound. But with The Path To Righteousness, they’re taking themselves a bit more seriously and swooping in with a record made to smash everything in their path.

Opener Regressing Forward is an ode to video games of the ’90s with an almost Street Fighter-esque intro, as if you’re waiting at the starting screen to pick your fighter. But this swiftly transitions into the metallic, feral rage of Hunting Season, bringing some elements of sludge into the mix.

Lessons Of The Past – with an intro reminiscent of Turbonegro’s All My Friends Are Dead before it erupts into a medley of chugging, groove-laden riffs, perfect for bouncing around a mosh-pit to – shows the Southampton mob at their creative best. It also includes a nice nod to the ’80s, brilliantly borrowing Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five’s ‘Don't push me cause I'm close to the edge / I'm trying not to lose my head.’

Everything feels bigger than their previous efforts. It feels like they’ve captured the most bombastic elements of their live shows and captured them seamlessly. From the thrash brilliance of Ulterior Motives, to the crossover chaos of Sick & Tired, Grove Street have managed to craft themselves a pocket within the hardcore scene where they stand out and flourish.

Verdict: 4/5

For fans of: Suicidal Tendencies, Turnstile, Biohazard

The Path To Righteousness is out now via UNFD

Read this: Grove Street: “The hardcore scene is saturated with bands trying to look tough. But that’s not us!”