Abnegation – Extinguish The Sickness (1994)

Holy shit, Erie fucking Pennsylvania just delivered the hardest punch to the gut since Integrity’s “Those Who Fear Tomorrow.” While everyone’s been circle-jerking over the latest Victory Records nonsense, Abnegation has been quietly perfecting the art of pure, unadulterated hatred.
Don’t sleep on Erie’s scene just because it’s not Cleveland or Syracuse. This rust belt wasteland has been breeding some seriously pissed-off bands, and Abnegation represents everything that’s right about small-town fury. These guys have been grinding it out in basements and VFW halls, sharing stages with bands like Confront and Spawn, building something real while the rest of the world obsesses over major label feeding frenzies.
“Extinguish The Sickness” sounds like it was recorded in a fucking bunker during wartime. The production is raw but not sloppy – every breakdown hits like a sledgehammer to the chest, every blast beat feels like machine gun fire. The guitar tone is absolutely crushing, all low-end brutality with just enough clarity to hear the intricate riffing underneath. The rhythm section locks in tight, creating this suffocating wall of sound that makes Breakdown’s heaviest moments seem like lullabies.
Lyrically, these guys aren’t fucking around with metaphors or abstract philosophy. This is straight-up social commentary about systemic corruption, environmental destruction, and the complete failure of institutions. They’re carrying the torch lit by bands like His Hero Is Gone and Neurosis, but with more direct rage and less pretension.
“Birthright” exemplifies everything brilliant about this record. The track opens with this ominous, slow-building intro that erupts into complete chaos. The vocals shift between desperate screams and militant chants, while the instrumentation creates this apocalyptic soundscape. It’s like hearing Rorschach if they’d grown up in post-industrial decay instead of New Jersey suburbs.
Militant Records deserves props for capturing this perfectly. The recording maintains that essential rawness while ensuring every crushing moment translates. This isn’t polished Victory Records bullshit – it’s authentic documentation of pure hardcore fury.
Mark my words: “Extinguish The Sickness” will be remembered as one of the most underrated hardcore records of the decade. While trends come and go, Abnegation has created something timeless and genuinely threatening. This is hardcore punk stripped of all pretense, delivered with conviction that most bands can only fake. Essential listening for anyone who still believes hardcore can change the world.