We love a good comeback ‘round these parts, and between last year and this year, we have had our pick of excellent comeback albums, some of them over ten years in the making.  The Hope Conspiracy is another band that, by all accounts, fell off the face of the earth, but 2024 sees them check in after an almost eighteen year absence (barring a few single and 7” releases) with Tools of Oppression/Rule by Deception.  Thrusting themselves firmly back into the extremely political side of hardcore, it seems not much has changed in the last nigh-two decades, which is good for the fellas, at least.  They’re not close to running out of things to be angry about…

Self-described as a “legendary” hardcore band (and they’re right to say so) straight out of Boston, The Hope Conspiracy made a name for themselves very quickly with their 2000 Equal Vision Records debut Cold Blue.  From there, it’s a hop skip and a jump over to Deathwish, Inc. for their lauded third release Death Knows Your Name, and then…nothing, save for a lone EP in 2009 and last year’s Confusion/Chaos/Misery single.  In the intervening years, the members branched out and joined other projects, but there is something that seems to always pull them back to The Hope Conspiracy.  Hell, this isn’t even the first hiatus the band has been on, although it is the longest by a country mile.  Whatever their reasons for staying away may be, The Hope Conspiracy are back, and some might say their presence has never been more necessary.  Tools of Oppression is, in classic hardcore fashion, a scathing critique of modern society and all its failings, like economic manipulation, media propaganda, war profiteering, mental illness and addiction.  With Kurt Ballou at the helm at the seminal God City Studio, you know you’re getting the absolute best in recording quality, and here that means razor sharp guitar tones, crushing distorted bass and that perennial visceral bellow from vocalist Kevin Baker that has been a constant for them since the beginning.

Modern hardcore has seen a shift in sound, more along the lines of metalcore than what originally popped up in DC and NYC in the late 70’s and early 80’s.  Take, for example, Knocked Loose, a band that everyone and their brother seems to be talking about these days (and for good reason: YWGBYST is very, very good): as good as it is, it’s a far cry from the classic hardcore of yore.  The Hope Conspiracy, even in 2024, are no beatdown band; they revel in the classic sound of fast-and-furious drums, breakneck power chords and a whole lot of righteous indignation.  This is that shit you discover from the soundtrack to a Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater game.  “Those Who Gave Us Yesterday” opens with a menacing growl of ringing power chords before opening the pit up to the real two-steppers with a stompy, borderline dancey beat and Baker’s vitriolic takedown of the previous generation.  Single “Live in Fear” keeps the intensity rolling with an outwardly punky anthem, a classic sub-two-minute face melter of a track that hits all the classic vibes I find myself craving.  It should be no surprise that my favorite tracks on this album are the super punky ones, like the aforementioned single, “Confusion/Chaos/Misery” and closer “The Specter Looms,” but hey, I am who I am.  My heart sings when I hear the dulcet tones of d-beats, distorted bass and naked aggression.

One the one hand, you might write Tools of Oppression/Rule by Deception off as being cliched, its topics stale and played out.  On the other hand, you might say that their message has never been more appropriate.  As the world slides ever closer to some kind of an insane, catastrophic implosion, it’s good to know that The Hope Conspiracy will always be there when we need them, no matter how long it’s been.

— Ian

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Tools of Oppression/Rule by Deception will be available May 31 on Deathwish, Inc.  For more information on The Hope Conspiracy, visit their official website.