Poetry From Pain By Gridiron
Album Review
By: Jake Jackson
“You still on the bench and we still the benchmark” is one of the many quotable lyrics from the brand new LP from the Hardcore outfit Gridiron, which features members of Never Ending Game, Simulakra, and Scarab. Released on Blue Grape Music on May 30, 2025, Poetry From Pain is the follow-up to 2022’s “No Good At Goodbyes,” which was released on Triple B Records. “Poetry From Pain” consists of 12 tracks with a total run time of 32 minutes with four singles being released in advance such as “Talk Real”, “Mascot”, “Still Playin’ For Keeps (Big Umbrella Remix)” featuring Daniel Son, Jay Royale, and Pro Dillinger, and lastly “26/9” with “Talk Real” and “Mascot” receiving music videos which if you haven’t checked those out I can’t recommend enough. This record is a personal highlight for me so far in 2025, and it will without a doubt be on my end-of-year list. I simply can’t recommend it enough. I believe Gridiron offers something musically for everyone, especially if you love a hybrid of Hardcore, Rap, and Metal. Not to mention the eclectic features such as Daniel Son, Jay Royale, and Pro Dillinger on “Still Playin’ For Keeps (Big Umbrella Remix)”, nothing, nowhere. On the title track “Poetry From Pain”, Mike “Truck” Ryan of Missing Link on “Roses”, and Big Body Bes on “Heavy Metal Money (Seen It All Before)”. Lastly, you can catch Gridiron on the Summer Slaughter tour along with Hatebreed, as well as several headlining shows, and Furnace Fest in Birmingham, Alabama, on October 5th.
Favorite Tracks: “Army Of None”, “Copycat League”, and “Paydirt”.
Album cover
Artwork and Layout by Denis Haliovic