Album Review: Untitled by If Footmen Tire You, What Will Horses Do
Man, where do I even start with this one? If you're into hardcore rock that punches you in the gut and leaves your ears ringing for days, then Untitled is gonna be your jam. Released back in 2008 outta Sweden, this album feels like it came straight from some underground bunker where chaos and raw emotion collide. It's not perfect—far from it—but damn if it doesn’t hit hard.
First off, let’s talk about “Bound By A Vow.” This track grabs you by the throat right outta the gate. The opening riff hits so heavy it’s like being shoved into a wall, but instead of hating it, you kinda love how much it hurts. And the vocals? Oh man, they’re brutal yet dripping with conviction. Like, you can hear every ounce of frustration and pain bleeding through each word. I remember blasting this on repeat during a rough patch last winter, windows down, freezing air rushing in—it felt cathartic, y’know? Like screaming into the void but knowing someone else was screaming back.
Then there’s “Our Home, Our Graveyard,” which might as well come with a warning label for your heartstrings. It starts slow, almost eerily calm before exploding into this chaotic mess of guitars and thundering drums. But what sticks with me most are the lyrics—they’re hauntingly vivid, painting pictures of loss and resilience without spelling everything out neatly. You have to sit with it, let it sink in, maybe cry a little (no shame). There’s something oddly comforting about music that doesn’t try to fix things but just sits with you in the wreckage.
The whole album has this DIY vibe since it’s self-released under the Not On Label tag. Every credit goes to IFTYWWHD themselves—from mixing to producing to writing the damn thing—and honestly, that makes it feel even more personal. It’s not polished or shiny; it’s gritty, unapologetic, and real. Sometimes it feels like listening to someone unravel their soul in real-time.
Here’s the kicker though: after all these years, I still can’t decide if Untitled is an anthem for survival or surrender. Maybe it’s both. Or maybe it’s neither. Either way, it’s stuck with me like gum on a shoe, refusing to let go no matter how many times I scrub at it.
And hey, isn’t that what great music does? Slaps you upside the head, shakes up your insides, and leaves you wondering why you ever thought life made sense in the first place.
