Feel the Darkness

by Patrick KennedyPortland, Oregon's Poison Idea were never a subtle act. In fact, they resided at the furthest end of the opposite spectrum, fusing the pummeling rhythm section of heavy metal, with the crunching three-chord speed and fury of American hardcore, topped off with Jerry A.'s snarling, larger than life baritone, spitting out declamation after declamation against the world. That would be larger than life in more ways than just his Stentorian roar: Jerry, like guitarist Pig Champion, and for that matter, drummer Thee Slayer Hippy, are veritable giants, in height and girth. Reissued in 1996 by Epitaph Records, Feel the Darkness is, simply stated, Poison Idea's most blistering moment in the sun, a steamrolling mass of furious speed and aggression, tempered with excellent drum and guitar work. Poison Idea, while helping to establish the template for American hardcore, were a talented bunch, and resided more often than not as much in metal as in punk. Though its predecessor, Record Collector's Are Pretentious Assholes modestly proved the growing talents of this band, Feel the Darkness established that as concrete fact. Songs like "Gone For Good", and "Just to Get Away" barrel forth like runaway locomotives, while the title track resonates with hair-raising depth, and slow-fused power.