So-Cal Spirit-filled hardcore arrives unannounced. “ORTHODOXY” delivers three cuts of urgency and faith — short, serrated, memorable.
Who Dear Adversary are — and why “Orthodoxy” matters in hardcore
Dear Adversary channel Spirit-filled hardcore with zero ornamentation: a handful of riffs, raw drums, loud bass, shout-along vocals, and a confession of faith delivered like a battle prayer. The title “ORTHODOXY” signals a back-to-basics ethos — not novelty for novelty’s sake but a return to first things, where the Gospel core drives both message and movement.
Track list & run time
- Dear Adversary — 2:37
- Testify (12.23.07) — 2:05
- No Weapon — 2:32
Totaling about 7 minutes, the EP is built for repeats. Each song plays a role: the opener declares intent, the middle track bears testimony, the closer proclaims Christ’s victory over fear and accusation.
Sound: tempo first, groove second, no frills
The mix prioritises impact and clarity: a crisp snare, springy kick, and grainy guitars that drive rhythm more than harmony. Vocals are a controlled shout — close-mic’d and gritty, phrased like short prayers. It sits at the seam of old-school and 2000s melodic hardcore: space between hits, propulsion that drags the chorus in without pop concessions.
Lyrical/faith angle: testimony as a weapon
This is catechesis in motion — concise lines, chantable phrases, scripture across the surface. “No Weapon” leans on Isaiah 54:17, “Testify” opens the chest, and the title track sets the axis: hold the line when pressure mounts. It is the language of spiritual warfare prayer: direct, loud, and meant to cut through noise.
Why it hits: sing-along intent and mosh-ready pivots
Each track carries a natural arc: tight verses, gnarly pre-choruses, heavier breaks, and call-outs aimed at the pit. When the line repeats, it’s an invitation more than a hook — and “No Weapon” lands like a room-wide declaration.
Where it sits on Eternal Flame’s map
- Invictus – “Hymn for the Fallen”
- Brotality – “Blasphemy”
- Redeemed By The Blood – “Territory”
- Within I Fail – “The Crimson (Christian Remix)”
- JSP – “Taking It Back”
Short, pointed, repeat-worthy. “ORTHODOXY” is the kind of EP you spin for a minute and stay for five loops. For listeners who want hardcore where content powers the punch.