Album Review: BillyBio – Leaders And Liars
Reviewed by Dan Phipps
Billy Graziadei AKA BillyBio has been releasing records for over 30 years. Obviously his work with Biohazard needs no introduction and they were one of the key acts in the New York hardcore scene call through the 90’s. Following BillyBio’s debut solo album Feed the Fire he has been back in his Firewater Studio and has teamed up with a series of stellar musicians to release a new record called Leaders and Liars.
As with its predecessor, Leaders and Liars does not follow a particular style path, it’s just a collection of killer hardcore tracks. If you want more of a metal sound, it has tracks which have you covered, if you want that classic raw hardcore sound, it’s got you covered and if you want something with a more straight up punk feel, we’ll guess what it’s got that covered too. Basically Billy Graziadei doesn’t feel the need to meet a certain criteria with his solo records, and working alongside PowerFlo drummer Fred Aching Rios, Suicidal Tendencies bassist Ra Diaz, Death By Stereo / Zebrahead guitarist Dan Palmer, and The Exploited guitarist Robbie Davidson, Leaders and Liars provides a group of tracks with fantastic energy and a very genuine feeling.
Now Leaders and Liars takes a couple of tracks to get up to speed in my opinion, not that the opening 2 are not up to scratch but as soon as the album's title track starts it is full speed ahead. The track subjecting you to an extremely furious piece of the old school hardcore style, full of anthemic lyrics. The anthemic feel of the writing and lyrics continues through the record on tracks such as 'Our Scene' and the album's first released track 'One Life To Live' in which Graziadei teamed up with Toby Morse to film the video for the song. On top of the anthemic feel, tracks like 'Lost Horizon' are just sharp and filled with pure rage.
Leaders and Liars is more than a solo record from the guy from Biohazard, BillyBio has his own identity which has been shown on both solo records and Leaders and Liars does not disappoint. It’s a collection of well crafted songs, with solid production and most importantly great energy from start to finish.
Check out our interview with Billy here.
