I was first introduced to Sick Of It All by a friend back in early-1995, just after "Scratch The Surface" came out. What I found in that album is what I find again in Based On A True Story. The album is steeped in positive messages that are relevant in the hardcore scene, but true in life as well. I remember the passion I felt for the genre when I was first introduced to the band, 15+ years ago. And while time has passed, and the scene is more blurred now than before with the crossover of metal, hardcore, and punk, Sick Of It All continues to do what they do best; old-school sing-a-longs, HxC breakdowns, and solid lyrical content.

Musically, what you know of SOIA is what you're going to get here. In some cases, that's not the best thing, but in their case, it's amazing. The album's solid production, headed by Danish producer Tue Madsen, is a testament to the way a hardcore album should be done. It's clear that high quality without over-production was the goal for this release, and it continues the reputation the band has for releasing albums have a solid sonic feel without sacrificing their roots.

The band tackles a variety of topics on Based On A True Story. Whether it's recalling the days of CBGB's on "A Month of Sundays", analyzing the political arena in the age of Obama in "Good Cop", or talking about crossing over the positive hardcore attitude into "real life" as one grows older in "Lifeline", SOIA gives it to you straight, void of BS or pandering.

Based On A True Story is bound to make a believer out of any hardcore naysayer. If you're already a fan of the band, what you're sure to find here is more of what you love: positive NYC hardcore that makes you want to clutch a mic and scream along.