Already in their young career the band has released several EPs and a single full length album (Rose City Hardcore) on a range of labels including Charge, Rodent Popsicle and Blackout (just to name a few). The group has a work ethic comparable to hard punks forefathers - the punk legends such as Madball, Sick of it All and Agnostic Front - and their onstage energy cannot be denied. Already the group has completed three United States tour runs, a Canadian tour, and countless West Coast tours in support of their full-length.

The music itself lies somewhere in the vein of Rancid, Sick of It All, Minor Threat and Madball - furious, forceful hardcore punk rock - devoid of the all-too-overused metal influenced breakdowns. Instead we see a welcome return to hardcore values of old - fast paced pounding drums, street punk lyrics fusing ideals learnt in the working-class with deep rooted angst and anger.

While the album is certainly nothing new to the genre, it certainly is a breath of fresh air to see a band like The Escaped go back to the pure, aggressive hardcore style of old. What the band may sometimes lack in technicality and originality they make up for with dedication, determination and execution. Take the chunky verse riff of 'Lost' and the subtle turn into an anthemic chorus - or the slow Sick Of It All type opening riff of 'Get Away' which in a matter of seconds steps up a notch to a relentless, desperate catch cry of 'I wish that I away / get away from the pain I feel inside / get away and change my fucking life.'

The frustration, the angst and the honest desire of The Escaped gives the flailing hardcore genre a reminder why so many punkers universally embraced it some fifteen years ago. Gimmickless, shameless, honest fucking hardcore punk rock! Check 'em out if you're a hardcore fan.