A nice cover. The band is lined-up of the people who had been involved in INDECISION, of course. And they go the same way. Full of energy, fuckin' heavy and aggressive metal HC/mosh that crushes your bones. Screaming vocal parts, filled with anger and really wise lyrics. The whole reminds me of INDECISION. Sounds really great, I can listen to it time and time again.

If you enjoyed Indecision before you will most likely enjoy them just as much now, if not more. This is basically the re-incarnation of that band, with basically the same members too. But something about it sounds so much heavier and tougher than Indecision ever did. This whole record carries with it an incredible heaviness to it, unmatched by the various Hatebreeds running around. This has so much emotion to it, relieving it from being just a boring mosh record. And I don't mean that it has whiney breakdowns and melodic shit here and there. But what Tom is saying in each of these songs (many of them having to do with suicide and death) have a profound effect on the music to make it that much heavier and powerful, not to mention the listener. I get shivers every time I listen to "Apparition" and "Sincerely". They're really great songs. The band has it's obvious influences from the Joy Division lyrical borrowing of 'love will tear us apart', to the various Unbroken metal riffs and breakdowns. Take it as you will, it's a super heavy disc with tons of dancefloor apeal, as well as a smart and emotional sing-along.

From the grit and grime of Gotham City comes Most Precious Blood. You may recognize a few of the guys (and girl) from the infamous Indecision; a band that paved the way for smart yet tough hardcore in the mid-90's and spent enough time in the trenches to make Black Flag shutter. Lyrically Most Precious Blood is just as poignant as Indecision was, but "Nothing In Vain" has more of stripped down feel, more raw and to the point. Indecision and now MPB have always been able to get across the feeling of urgency and impatience in their songs. On "Nothing In Vain" it's as if the world has a only few hours left and you have to get it all out in time. MPB's choruses are catchy and haunting; somewhere in between The Misfits and Hot Water Music if you can imagine such a marriage. The vocals of Tom Sheehan remind me of the despair of such vocalists as Rob Fish (108, Ressurection) and Zack DeLaRocha (Inside Out, Hard Stance). Rachel's bass lines on this record are that of an octopus. The! bass really drives this album, the guitar (Justin Brannan) really gives the bass room to breathe and it creates something unique. Some of the bass lines remind me of the old band Jesus Lizard. I'm sure these guys are into Jesus Lizard, because I can hear all sorts of delicious musical plagirism all over this effort from The Pixies to the so-called "Gothenberg sound" of In Flames. Justin Brannan's guitar on "Song Of Siren" reminds of me the holy one, Greg Ginn. Pat Flynn rounds out this record behind the skins and acts as the glue for this collage of emotion. All around an amazing effort and I only expect more great things from this band. These are some players that I will always follow because they never let you down. I think a few years from now people will look back and realize how before-their-time MPB was. I can honestly say this is a hardcore band that has a style all their own.

From the ashes of NYC hardcore kill-squad, Indecision, comes MPB. Indecision members, Justin, Rachel and Tom have banded together with new drummer Sean and bassist Matt Miller to form a more back to basics hardcore unit. While I say "back to basics" I don't mean they have are sounding like they crawled out of 1988, but more that they are pushing a direct hardcore sound minus the more metallic sound we heard in Indecision. By adding melodic elements of The Cure and early 80's goth rock, MPB takes on a life of their own. Songs like "Less Then Zero, "The Knot", "In Effigy" and "...And The Band Played On" keep you trapped in their that will have you singing along one second and smashing the person next to you the next. Overall, a rock-hard release that makes MPB's future look promising.

What I always will remember from seeing Most Precious Blood live a couple of times in NYC in 2001 are the great interaction between band and audience, the enormous amount of energy this band is playing with during their whole set and the almost dead experiences I had more than once because of audiences that always went completely nuts for this band. What I also remember was that I always found their set lists a bit monotonous and therefore also too long, in other words their songs could use some more variation in my opinion. After their very successful demo (all six songs of that demo tape are also featured on this album), which I also really liked by the way, this is their first full length and I was more than looking forward to this one for a long time already, being very curious how these Gotham City pioneers that arose from Indecision would capture that enormous amount of sweat and energy of their live shows on a silver disk. And during the first song I already got an answer on that question: they surely did capture that same vibe, and how! 12 furious hardcore tracks with the characteristic high and almost hysterical vocals of their singer Tom. Almost all songs are very fast and straight ahead with some great breakdown parts with attacking guitars thrown in now and then. You can almost feel the sweat coming out of your speakers and you can see the slippery floor in front of you when listening to this amazing furious and raw sounding (the way bands like this have to sound on records in order to come close to their live sound!) energetic album! Just like back in the Indecision days, the lyrics are very direct and straight in your face. Anyone can give his/her own interpretation to them which is always great. Lyrics of some songs are very dark or sad, while others are expressions of hope. What I immediately noticed the first time this record was playing, is that these songs sound more varied on CD than live on stage, probably because more attention can be paid to small details, like dynamics and little sound effects, on record than on stage. What I also would like to mention is that the booklet, made of thick paper, is one of the finest pieces of artwork I have ever seen with a hardcore CD. The concept (lay out, pictures, written lyrics, font) and the atmosphere in general simply fits perfectly with this band! Please also read what the band has to say about the artwork. Awesome job!

Indecision, a hardcore staple for the later half of the 90s, burn through two vocalist before calling it quits. A new group is quickly formed, consisting of the original Indecision lineup, including vocalist Tom Sheehan. The new band, taking their name from the Indecision song/album "Most Precious Blood", for all practical purposes, are still Indecision. Period. For those unfamiliar with the group, think hardcore that relies heavily on E-chugs and mid-tempo metal progressions. High-pitched shouts complement music never quite fast enough to evoke a real sense of energy. Scream-along choruses and guitar hooks pull in the listener as each song chugs along leaving enough of an impact that you'll always find yourself coming back for more. Suicide and death imagery super-saturate this album. However, the band felt an explanation of their artistic intent necessary, and have included a short essay in the liner notes which functions more as a disclaimer. Although, I'm sure some folks who pick up Nothing in Vain may need an essay to tell them the band isn't romanticizing the idea of taking one's own life, most of us don't need things spelled out so clearly. One of the most primary joys of art is understanding through visuals, and the essay works to destroy all that has been done by painting this album's aesthetics with such a heavy subject. I'm sure it was a hard call for the band, as the essay explains Most Precious Blood/Indecision never felt the need to explain themselves before, but with suicide as the subject they did not want to give the wrong impression. Nothing in Vain will satisfy Indecision fans, while offering a solid album of thoughtful and catchy hardcore for newcomers.

For those who are interested, I am currently sitting in a hotel room in Chicago waiting for 8 PM to roll around because I have a juggling show to perform tonight at a club called the Park West. As I sit here listening to the tapping of the radiator and looking out at Lake Shore Drive, there are five things which are making me incredibly happy to be alive. Here they are, in no particular order: 1. The server from Hong’s Thai Kitchen who sat and talked to me for an hour today when I was killing time and eating a plate of his rocking “Panang Curry Noodles with Tofu” (check www.hongsthai.com for a full menu); 2. The crew at the Park West (if you happen to play in a band big enough to rock out there, don’t miss it. The entire staff was very welcoming and professional. When Trial played Chicago six years ago, there were about nine people there in the restaurant we played, so you will have to tell me what the Park West is like from a band’s perspective!); 3. This record. Most Precious Blood has blown my expectations away and my expectations were high. The cover, done by Justin Borucki, continues in the vein of the powerful Indecision covers over the years. (If you have never seen the cover to “Release the Cure”, rush out right now to find it. It is the only album cover artwork which ever stopped me dead in my tracks, jaw hanging open). Justin’s design for this cover is based around a wrist slashing suicide, and the band includes some words describing why they chose this theme and how their intent is not to glorify or glamourize the act. While it could be suggested that an artistic depiction of any act, portrayed for the viewing public is inherently a glamourization of that act, the band makes a strong point for supporting those who struggle with suicidal thoughts, even if your efforts to help them are not successful. Ultimately, the CD cover will draw attention to the issue and inspire conversation and reaction, which is great given all the boring covers in the world. I am so tired of seeing the same band art differentiated only by band name. I am really impressed that the band makes an impact before the CD is even opened. Musically heavy with non-formula guitar riffs, great production and lots of time changes, the songs kept me engaged throughout. The vocals are a real strong point, with the return to the collective of Tom Sheehan. Tom had sung for Indecision a couple years ago, and now that he has returned to his friends with this new band, the collective has never been stronger. The higher pitched edge of Tom’s voice maintains a sense of desperation and intensity throughout this record, giving a sense of breaking down in despair while building emotional strength back up at the same time. There are alternating lines of torment throughout the record along with group-sung lines of determined perserverence, and I don’t just mean “standard hardcore sung with backup vocals. The vocal style and techniques on this record communicate to me beyond the words themselves. When combined with the lyrics (From “Less Than Zero”: This moment is all that I own / Tonight I shut my eyes with you on my mind / Attempts in vain to forget that you left me to die / But I’ve grown tired of collecting myself from the ground / At your mercy, lost and never found) his voice supports the theme of the songs in a way which another voice might not. Be sure to keep the CD playing after the album tracks end in order to hear a ton of outtakes both spoken and musical. The spoken ones will tell you more about the band than you probably wanted to know, and include a mention of shrinky dinks.

Ok guys, for all you new kids or hopelessly clueless... This is HARDCORE! !! The way it was meant to be! The second you put this disc in your player you are kicked in the head with wall-to-wall guitars slamming drums and a bass that makes your chest feel like caving in! They have Tom back on vocals and you can hear the rage. Definitely like him better then the singer on Indecision's "Release The Cure", Artie. As soon as the first couple bars of "Apparition" kicks in, you feel your body start shaking and by the time the chorus slams in your practically running up your walls. These kids put all their heart and emotions into this record. Songs like "Morphine" you can see someone slowly going crazy in a hospital room! and "The Lantern makes you look inside yourself and remember someone you yourself have lost. Definitely has made my top ten all time favorites!

EX-Indecision folks play brutal metal hardcore in the vein of Hatebreed, The Haunted, and Converge. The music is your usual jud jud, chunk chunk and really harkens back to late 80's hardcore like Breakdown. Vocalist Tom Sheenan has one of the strongest screaming styles I've heard in a long time. Not far off from John Brannon of Negative Approach. With so many vocalists heading into cookie monster metal territory, it's nice to hear someone keeping it real. This is good hardcore, plus you get an extra 80 bonus tracks of band conversation and music.

I'll start off this review with an apology. I am officially apologizing to Justin Brannan, guitarist for New York hardcore outfit MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, and trusted writer for FoundryMusic.com. Why? Because I've owned a copy of his band's disc, Nothing in Vain for several months now, and never made good on my promise to him to review it on the site. I'm such a shit, and you'd think after this disc showed up between ROB ZOMBIE and KITTIE on the CMJ Hard Rock charts (I think it peaked at number three), I would have gotten my shit together, and put it up here...Of fucking course not. Well, it's March 2002, and I'm finally putting up this fucking review. Sorry Justin. OK, if I ever kill my dog, and smear his bloody carcass all over my living room floor, I know exactly what CD I'm going to put in my stereo: Nothing in Vain by MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD. Formed from the remains of INDECISION, these guys have been a NY hardcore staple for years, and with their recent release on Trustkill records (who incidentally sunk a pile of money into making and printing up these discs...nice fucking packaging!), they rise to a new level of sonic brutality. Rather than trying to play faster and harder than everyone else (which is common with a lot of harcore acts) MPB has a stripped-down approach to their writing, a la SICK OF IT ALL, BLACK FLAG, and AGNOSTIC FRONT. Lyrically, the songs are emotional and very passionate...even though it sounds like singer Tom Sheehan stabs himself in the throat with an icepick before he gets near a microphone, one read through the CD insert, and you'll subject yourself to some potent, often depressing words and imagery...I've always said that the best songs come out when your emotions are at their peak...either when you're really bullshit, or when you're just about to plunk yourself down in a warm bathtub and slice open a vein. The riffs are strong throughout the disc. I mean, you're not going to hear any multi-platinum hard rock songs on this disc, but I don't think that's what MPB is going for. They're on the road regularly, playing with established hardcore acts all over the country, and they attract a crowd wherever they go...that crowd might not fill Madison Square Garden, but it'll definitely fill up CBGB's. If you're looking for a hardcore disc that pulls zero punches, and really inspire you to kick the shit out of your neighbor's dog, pick up Nothing In Vain and drop kick a poodle.

Rising from the ruin of one of hardcore's most respected and dedicated acts, NYC's Indecision, comes Most Precious Blood. However, as revered as Indecision were, musically they had a tendency for boring repetition (a flaw shared by much of '90s hardcore) and little (if any) musical innovation. In addition, their last few releases before their demise, especially Release the Cure, sounded far too much like rehashed '80s thrash (think Nuclear Assault) for anyone's well-being. Still, Most Precious Blood is a new beginning, and musically while retaining links to Indecision's sound (unavoidable really), cuts its metallic plodding and pummelling with melodic passages, breakdowns, countless gang vocals, full-fledged moshcore (an Indecision staple), actually hardcore riffing, as opposed to slowed down thrash, and a dedication and enthusiasm that is palpable. While arguably still doing little to innovate, Most Precious Blood delivers an album that fans of Indecision will undoubtedly love, while adding new staples (melody) to their arsenal, which makes them a catchier and better band than ever before.

NYHC resurrected from the ashes of INDECISION (who incidentally had a release entitled 'Most Precious Blood'). MPB has in fact come full circle as this band is in fact the original INDECISION line-up. Always uncompromising, this opts for a little more melody but still remains punishing in the SOIA, HATEBREED, UNBROKEN vein. They may be under a new name but longtime fans may agree they've picked up from where they left off & returned to delivering awesome music. Now this is what a reunion is supposed to be like. I extend a most pleasant Welcome Back"!

Most Precious Blood was born as the ashes of Indecision were being laid to rest, and it is readily apparent that Nothing in Vain carries with it many memories of Indecision's strengths and weaknesses. Accompanying these memories are Justin Brannan and Rachel, who were formerly guitarist and bassist for Indecision, as well as Indecision's original vocalist, Tom Sheehan. Most Precious Blood has stripped the familiar metalcore sound down to its very bones and present a formidable assemblage of uncompromising hardcore that should definitely cause a commotion in the dwindling hardcore community. Nothing in Vain displays a form of hardcore that has almost become extinct: basic, straightforward heaviness that relies more on true emotion and passion than on overbearing feats of musical prestidigitation. Sheehan sings with bold defiance toward those who may think hardcore is a lost cause, and every bandmember pours every inch of their soul into their respective instrument. Lyrically Most Precious Blood dares to be honest, writing heartfelt thoughts which deserve to be studied instead of playing the mindless rhyme game. While "And the Band Played On" speaks briefly about Most Precious Blood's dedication to their craft, songs such as "Sincerely," which touches on the pain of love, and "The Lantern," which is an emotional ode to a family member's death, are moving and realistic, overflowing with passion. Most Precious Blood embodies everything that allows hardcore music to bond with its fans, and Nothing in Vain should be used to instruct newcomers on how to convey emotion through brutality correctly. Nothing in Vain is an album of magnificence designed by people who have their fingers on the pulse of the scene.

Josh Trustkill always says this 'zine never gives his releases good reviews. Well no more! Most Precious Blood's 1st official release under said moniker (previously releasing no less than eighty billion records under the name Indecision) fucking destroys, start to finish, with no pause for introspection or to help the guy up next to you. That's not to say this album lacks depth or is one-dimensional mosh; quite the contrary, in fact. Much was made on the internet of the "controversial" and "shocking" imagery on the cover, which depicts a man with slit wrists, laying a bathtub. Hmm. Suicide is always tedious and shaky subject matter, but MPB definite establishes a mood that this kind of graphic depiction fits into rather well. And it reminds me of Life of Agony "River Runs Red". How could that possibly be bad? Anyway, for those who have heard Mos Prez Blizzzod, this CD has more of the pummeling assault found on their demo, but to a greater and more punishing degree. In fact, the demo tracks are rerecorded, plus new additions like "In Effigy", which has one of the heavier breakdowns this side of NYHC. 12 solid modern hardcore jams comprise this release, and about 40-50 tracks of them fucking around on tape, some of which is absolutely hysterical ("How come every episode of 'Alf' was him trying to eat the cat?"...Funny 'cause it's true). Highly recommended and a standout release in a sea of "nwemo" and otherwise tripe.

It's amazing when periods of inspiration can suddenly blossom. Relishing in the pain of surgery (had those wisdom teeth taken out) and simply sitting here on my ass, or just lying down with ice-packs between each cheek, I've had the chance to listen to this new release. Having seen these guys live with Bane a month of so back, I was both anxious and nervous about hearing their studio-made work. Even in Syracuse, people went nuts for this New York City-based group. I usually appreciate a band I see live first before hearing their recorded material. I guess it's like reading a book before it's made into a movie. Most Precious Blood is basically the new Indecision, but much, much more. Comparing Indecision with MPB, I'd have to say that the vocalist's singing has improved greatly. Hell, I love when a band can mix insane breakdown parts in a song with lyrics that you can comprehend. I feel that few bands embrace the ability to sing clearly their emotions while delivering a punch that makes a great pit. Perhaps a controversial side-note of MPB's release is the depiction of suicide on the front cover. As with MPB's previous releases, Justin Boruski has designed six of their album covers (as Indecision and now Most Precious Blood). I guess it's unusual in the fact that they issue a defense to this cover.. "We do not condone suicide.." But in today's paranoid, and sometimes utterly stupid society, I guess the band felt the need to take this action. What's really important is the album itself which instills some sing-along parts and some parts which make for some insane circle-pitting or whatever you dancers enjoy doing. (Hell, I'm a 'pointer'.) The sing-along part that first pops into my head appears in 'Sincerely,'... Other songs, like 'In Effigy' begin with a tight bass intro before pushing ahead with forceful guitar and singing in tone. Throughout this album, I was never bored and found my feet tapping randomly. Don't expect to get much work done while listening to this because it simply absorbs you. I especially like the tight double-bass portions features in several songs. The song,'The Knot', seems to invoke nostalgia in the listener... Well, we have our own interpretations of lyrics and that's the beauty of hardcore. At least I'll have something powerful and enjoyable to listen to as the shock of these drugs wears away and the pain of surgery becomes imminent.

Now, as far as most music out there goes, I feel like quite often I'm being so completely surrounded by the mainstream music world spoon-feeding me sugar coated crap and even the underground acts never evolving past a point you can call very embryotic, it's left me no other choose but to simply be a completely and utterly skeptical, nihilistic jerk to often just stay afloat in the midst of the horrible mess that usually ensues. Now this often playing itself out even in terms of many hc bands as well and Most Precious Blood (even though it carried with it some of the former members of Indecision and a bunch of all around great people) initially fell into this trap door as well. So when I first heard Tom (Indecison's first singer) was back on vocals and that things were going to be coming back together like the old days, I felt that Most Precious Blood almost sounded like an Indecision cover band with that name, and that, while the emotion behind his voice was great in the old days, Tom's voice often just couldn't stack up against the band's sometimes more metallic riffs. (While their second singer Artie Phillie's voice was a lot more powerful and propulsive, but, at the same time, kind of stripped some of the angst out of the band's old lyrics before he joined with the intensity of it at live shows.) So, since they never were able to exactly find that perfect balance for me in their Indecision days, I had my reasons (probably both stupid and thoughtful) to have my doubts as well about this band before I heard this record. Now the thing is though not only could you call this album Tom's official coming out party as a vocalist, but something that just crystallizes Most Precious Blood's as a force to reckon with in the new year as well. It just simply almost sounding like a band whose members have a lot of experience in hardcore that they've been able to learn from, who are a lot more a lot more no nonsense about their work because of it and somehow just combined the best and worst of all of these years into one lethal concoction on record. So, in a brief little introduction to what you'll be getting, you'll be hearing an album that just sounds like it all at the same time encompasses the unwavering principles of the band's youth, a weariness of the world that has come with age, and all it being heard behind these riffs surrounding it that just seem to get thicker and juicer by the album and year. So, basically, if you're looking for an album that expresses the strain and disillusion that is sometimes living in this world, you'll find it on a track like "Less Than Zero." If you'd want to hear what it would sound like "if only Led Zeppelin had grown up in hardcore", you'll find that sort of vibe on "Apparition." If you're also as sick as this band is of how many bands have been leaving the hardcore genre of late, there's a song like "And The Band Played On" on there for you . If you'd not always been "fatherless" or without a love one, but have to deal with the pain of losing them right now, you have "The Lantern." While finally, even if you're a hardcore purist, always loved Tom on vocals and want to kick my ass for suggesting he was anything else ever other than godly, you can throw in my face the incredibly intense remake of the old Indy song "No Place Like Home." So now since I'm sure you already know where I'm going with all of this, I needn't really go on, but, much like Agnostic Front or Sick Of It All before them, Justin Brannan and the rest of his bandmates are slowly but surely showing us with this release that not only don't you have to leave hardcore, but even get the slightest bit uglier with age! A rock solid debut from a great, promising new band; B+.

Most Precious Blood rose from the ashes of Indecision, the hardcore stalwarts from Brooklyn, New York. The group’s proper debut, Nothing in Vain, shows the new band picking up where the old one flamed out. The album is chock full of anthemic choruses, pit-ready beats, and founding vocalist Tom Sheehan’s trademark banshee screams. Tracks like "And the Band Played On," "The Lantern," and "Heroes and Conspiracies" are welcome throwbacks to Indecision’s fury, while textured cuts like "Sincerely" and "No Place Like Home" demonstrate how far these guys have come as songwriters. With its throat-grabbing intensity, Nothing in Vain is at once an impressive opening chapter for the members of MPB and a welcome sequel for followers of their already accomplished careers.

You will all know Most Precious Blood is the bastard son (or daughter if you like) of legendary NY hardcore band Indecision. After that band had decided to split up, former member Justin Brannan (guitar) hooked up with Tom Sheehan (vocals) to form this new band. Most Precious Blood being a release by its illustrious parent. Most important to me is the fact that Tom is a great vocalist and totally leaves former Indecision singer Artie in his shadow. Due to his power MPB is a band that can and will take over the unexpecting world with its hard, sometimes chaotic, definitely metallic, but overall mature hardcore album. With Indecision they have learned their lessons, with Most Precious Blood they will bring them in effect.

This dark, screamy record doesn't fuck around in the delivery of brutal, punching, metal hardcore with a firm grasp on the old school NYC style while fully embracing the current phenomenon of amazing prowess, complimenting contemporaries such as Darkest Hour, Ink and Dagger, and the like. The band is basically a new incarnation of the band Indecision, who's CD was amazing but in a fit of weirdness, I gave away, so now I don't remember it well enough to make a healthy comparison. Taking lyrics from Joy Division ("Love will Tear us Apart" (not to mention the album artwork depicting a rather gruesome suicide-perhaps in homage to Ian Curtis?) and The Smiths ("I've seen this happen in other people's lives, now it's happening in mine") might seem like a weird pool to draw on, but it just goes to show where the resources of the emotions behind the message is coming from. Extremely desperate, alone, afraid of remaining or feeling unloved, abandonment, etc. You know the routine. This isn't going to be terribly new to anyone already well acquainted with hardcore, but I'd say it would be a really incredible addition to your record collection.. necessary even. The vocals aren't all low and you can even understand a lot of what is being said without a lyric sheet, the band is emotive/passionate without being whiny, the guitars are chunky, the drums well triggered, the message worth paying attention to. The backup vocals will give you the cues to sing along. Extremely high energy and loving of the craft. Neat. Oh yeah, and after the full length album, there is many, many tracks of the band playing with a tape recorder driving around (including a really long discussion about what colognes are out of style, whether the Olson twins were hotter when they were 7 or now, and them yelling out the window of their van at other people in traffic...oh man, these guys are so fucking hyper, not to mention spend a good deal of the time urinating and talking about that; it's kind of funny but probably should have been left off the cd) and then there is a whole lot more songs. Making this CD more than an hour long.

With members of Brooklyn hardcore stalwarts Indecision in their ranks, it comes as no surprise that My Precious Blood are exploring extremely brutal and dark territory on their new opus. Although the structures and vibe of traditional chest-beating hardcore are very much in evidence throughout, there is a subtly soulful feel to these songs which belies the fiery nature of the material. 'Rest easy foes, for tonight my eyes will close' roars frontman Tom Sheehan on 'Morphine' and the effect is startling; genuinely emotional hardcore, without the balls-free simpering prevalent elsewhere, blended skillfully with the power of UK acts like Unite and Stampin' Ground. Thought-provoking and imaginative, yet as bruising as any sweaty meathead could desire; a potent combination.

When I arrived home for a short Thanksgiving break, the first thing I noticed about being home was the debut MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD disc was waiting for me on my desk. Ooooh yeah. As the sticker on the shrinkwrapper boldly proclaimed, MPB are the original line-up of the fantastic NYHC band, INDECISION, easily one of my favorite bands of all-time. Every since I picked up MPB's demo tape in Spring of 2001, I was dying to know when a full length was coming, and thankfully Trustkill records picked them up. Could this be stability on a record label finally for these guys? "Nothing In Vain," is very much the next logical progression for the long line of INDECISION full lengths, full of beefy hardcore riffs, technical drumming, thundering bass, and great screaming, but approachable vocals. I always felt that Tom was a better singer than Artie, and I'm really glad that he's back into the fold. Some of have said that "Nothing In Vain," is a bit more melodic than previous works, but I think that is only brought up because there are more brutal sing-along parts and timing changes. The first three tunes are certainly not slackers, but they at best warm you up for the mammoth song, "In Effigy," which has one of the best double-bass enduced closing breakdowns I've ever heard. I can't wait to get up close at a MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD song and shout my heart out. The same feeling follows the the song, "The Lantern," and on "And the Band Played On," you get a bit of insight to this band's somewhat troubled line-up/touring past. After INDECISION toured nearly 9 months straight, that tune pretty much explains the emotions when everything imploded 2000 miles from home. The artwork and corresponding message in the lyric booklet gives detail to the overall theme of this album, "suicide," and the helplessness we can all feel if and when we know of someone in need of help. These guys have always approached their music as a tool to empower though controversial lyrics, intelligent reflections and emotional platitudes that don't get enough spotlight in the hardcore scene, and "Nothing In Vain," is brillant in continuing that ethic. There's loads of metalcore out there for one to check out, but MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD connect in a much more direct, personal way that seems to elevate itself so much above the rest. With lyrics like, "You were supposed to be invincible / what happens to you happens to me / solidarity - forever family / I'd give my own life just to save yours / my true creator when death darkens the door," I feel completely wrapped up someone else's world. When INDECISION called it quits, I was shocked and upset - sure they were only a "band," but their words rang true and their music was just stunning - I can't express how glad I am to see them return as MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD. "Nothing In Vain" is one of the best discs of 2001, and should hopefully make it onto as many stereos as possible.

I refuse to call this band "Most Precious Blood". I prefer to call them "Indecision when they were awesome". These brooklyn natives brought the ghost of Indecision and made it lounder, angrier, and just all around better. And a lot better production than their older stuff. Their sound still consists of the same formula... high pitched screaming (but you can understand the lyrics), fast parts, 2 step parts, and breakdowns that would make your momma dance, not to mention baselines to die for. The one noticeable differance between Indecision and MPB are the vocals, alot scratchier than before, even though it's the same singer (Tom). I guess it just changed in time. But it's still good. I was very impressed by this release. It takes me back to when I first got into newer hardcore bands and going to crazy shows with 15 people beating each other up in the middle of nowhere. Since then the scene has changed, but Most Precious Blood clearly still has their place.

Most Precious Blood picks up where Indecision left off. They take a few pages from Cold as Life, Sick Of It All, Cro-Mags and Agnostic Front and a few pages from Econochrist, Unbroken and Undertow and some of the West coast stuff, but this is more aggresive and emotional than the bands I just named!! Till last week I never heard more than a new mp3 of the new album. I know Indecision for several years know and the band played very tight metallic hardcore, till they stopped. Most Precious Blood is the ex-bandmembers new band. They took the time to write a full length album with very aggresive and energetic songs, but lyrically they remained untouchably emotional and personal as well! A nice thing on this album are the vocals, they are very intense, but also the backing vocals are sung very melodic. To me it isn't easy to listen to every album I get. Loads of Cds are crap or nothing special, that's why I only review bands who brings something special to me. There are 99 track on it, 17 songs and about 82 tracks with conversations etc. Give it a try!

Here's the long awaited debut full-length from Most Precious Blood. And yeah, yeah, yeah. they have ex-members of Indecision, but who fucking cares? This is way better than Indecision anyway. Heavy, melodic, abrasive. and the songs are actually memorable and emotional. The vocals are totally blistering screams, and surprisingly enough tracks like "Apparition" even use some singing vocals, complete with backups. Most every song is less than three minutes, so they fuck shit up and move on pretty quickly: Just check out the diversity of "Sincerely," with its grating rhythms, completely melodic chorus with all sorts of layered vocals, and devastating breaks of simply bass, drums and vocals. Elsewhere the compositions range from a brutal take on traditional old school hardcore in "The Knot" to the more chugging metallic leanings of "In Effigy". The production is pretty good. I'd definitely make a few changes though. The drums and vocals seem fine, and the guitars are probably close enough. But the bass tone is really weird. It's very distinct, which is great, but the definition that helps it be heard leaves it sounding thin, so I'd cut back on some of the character and just crank the volume to thicken up the low-end gaps left by the guitars. Lyrically things are pretty damn good too, and despite some of the negativity and shocking imagery they portray, the phrase "Love is stronger than death" emblazoned across the back of the booklet shows that there is a positive message beneath it all. The visual presentation is equally strong, conceptually as well as graphically. As if images of shattered mirrors, bloody sinks, and razor blades don't make the point, the photos of a bloody-wristed body in the bathtub should do the trick. But the band did take the extra effort to include a little paragraph stating that the artwork and lyrics are very important, but they do not condone suicide in any way. The rest of the layout includes handwritten lyrics and some metallic silver foil inlays that work great with the completely black and white packaging. After the last song ends there's a bunch of blank tracks, and then at track 25 things pick back up with tons of hilarious recordings that the band assumedly made on tour of just random conversations, stories, etc. This shit is fucking hilarious. classic, classic stuff. Around track 75 there are a bunch of unlisted songs, I'd guess it's the band's demo because some of the songs appear in alternate versions at the beginning of the CD, but either way it's good stuff and the CD ends up providing over an hour's worth of material. Check this one out, folks.

Most Precious Blood has been one of the foundations of New York hardcore, and it's due to albums like their debut "Nothing In Vain" that give them that title. These guys hail from New York City and they find a way to capture it's energy, emotion, and passion and bundle it into "Nothing In Vain". These guys have matured in many ways since their inception. Their song writing has grown, their songs have become more melodic, and they have proven to the hardcore world that you can be catchy while remaining heavier than a pile of elephant shit. "Nothing In Vain" is their first release as "Most Precious Blood", but the seventh full length for the members overall. Since these guys constantly hit the pavement look out for them to hit a city near you soon. From doing regular tours with Sick Of It All, to being featured in Hellfest 2001, Most Precious Blood is all over the place.

This album is awesome.  It's not coming to me who the vocalist sounds like, but Most Precious Blood reminds me a bit of Nora, and the old-school style reminds me of Bane.  They've got some of the chanting and stuff, which is probably because of the presence of members of Indecision...the vocals are high-pitched, the release actually reminds me of something released on a label like Equalvision.  The instrumentals have a twinge of metal in them, you can hear it in pretty much every song.  Above all, Nothing In Vain is dramatic.  It's emotional and aggressive.  Any fan of traditional hardcore would probably go for this, as well as a fan of Equalvision and Bane/Ensign-style music. One of the best Trustkill releases since 'The Opposite Of December.'

Jesus christ this record is ridiculous! Having been a huge Indecision fan for years, I was awaiting the release of this album for quite some time now, and let me tell you, boy was it worth it. This record definitely is a call back to the early days of Indecision, but its just so much more(and so much better) than that. Now, don't get me wrong, there's plenty of mosh on this record, but Most Precious Blood not only do it better than most bands, they use the "breakdown" with a tastefulness I only wish half the bands out there now would use. The brutal heaviness intertwined with faster, more stripped down parts, sing alongs and melodies(wow, Tom learned how to sing) make this record an amazing effort. They re-recorded many of the songs from the demo, which is a plus and they also included a re-recorded version of "No Place Like Home" from the Indecision record "Most Precious Blood". Nice touch. Honestly, though, its the new songs that blow you away. "Apparition" and "In Effigy" to name a few. Most importantly(or not) this album has an extended bonus track of just funny shit much like the old Indecision records. I love this shit. Very funny, although not as funny as the bonus stuff on "most precious blood". Also, they include the old demo at the end of the bonus track, which is pretty cool. Oh, and the artwork is ridiculous. Borucki is amazing as always. Go! Buy this album! Now!

New York's hardcore scene continues to spurt out great band after great band. But this time around they go back to the future for this newbie. Most Precious Blood is made up of former members from Indecison, vets of 10 years in the industry. Most Precious Blood is the combination of wisdom and an unrelenting desire to spread their ethics through a voice and sound that is sure to nail the point home. Without a doubt this is a hardcore record for the ages. MPB fulfills every promise Indecision ever had, only raises the bar musically. This is apparent immediately with "Less Than Zero". Faster and a little more metal then Indecision was; Justin and Rachel (both previously members of Indecision) start the track off with their trademark hard-hitting licks. The guitars create a sense of urgency, while Sheehan makes his gory entrance. He can scream with the best of them. Through out the track the rest of the band hits hard, and the screams are as emotional as it gets. "The Lantern" is like getting hit in the balls over and over. The throbbing sensation becomes your friend after awhile. The guitars are frantic as usual, while the drums and bass provide the punch while Sheehan screams: " Love is stronger than death, you are stronger then death". Heartfelt Tom screeches his pain about loss. From the first second till the last breath "The Lantern" delivers fury and emotion! Hardcore has never been closer to heaven! I was totally into "Come What May". The axe work here flies! Sheehan and the rest of the band scream bloody murder over and over. 1:54 of balls out destruction! "Heroes And Conspiracies" has the best fucking guitar lick in it! It's one of those riffs that make your blood boil and forces movement. Uhhh huh huh huh, oh fuck yeah! Couple that destructive lick, hammering drum beats, Sheehan's issues and you got one whale of a bloody track. Go buy this CD just for this track alone! Fans of the old VOD shit will walk around with a banana in their pocket for this disc. The vocals are very similar to Tim Williams. But the musical aspects have far more variety then the old Indecision stuff. I remember listening to Indecision and finding every song sounding very similar. With Most Precious Blood you are hooked for all 12 tunes, and still wanting to hear more. I want to make it clear, this is not one of those instances where band members get back together on a new project to relieve old glory. Most Precious Blood is better then Indecisions old glory, and is poised to be a hardcore establishment for another decade!

A little history lesson in one sentence: In the mid 90s, Indecision rocked the hardcore world, booted singer Tom Sheehan, replaced him with Artie Philie, continued to "smosh" away, broke up, while 2/5 of the band decided they still wanted to do music and reunited with Sheehan to form Brooklyn's Most Precious Blood, taking the name from the Indecision album. Is MPB simply Indecision redux, a retread of territory the band covered, ultimately leaving fans to wish for the return of Indecision? No. Hell no. Nothing In Vain treads familiar Indecision territory with a throw-em-to-the-lions style of metalcore and mosh happy breakdowns, but MPB cranks the metallic elements of its sound and has improved its songwriting tenfold. "Apparition" and "Sincerely" feature these distorted, yet classic hardcore, sing alongs that coincide with riffs so fast that death and black metallers might turn their heads, something not always heard of Indecision's amazing albums. Kudos to Sheehan, guitarist Justin Brannan, and bassist Rachel Rosen for continuing to do it, and do it well.