Truth In The Age Of Lies

Released in 1997 on Gain Ground (and later reissued by Lifeline), Truth In The Age Of Lies is widely considered a foundational text of metallic hardcore. While many of their peers were still leaning into the traditional New York Hardcore sound, All Out War fully embraced the influence of 'Big Four' thrash metal, specifically the dark, minor-key aggression of Slayer. This album solidified the 'Holy Terror' aesthetic - a blend of apocalyptic lyrical themes, religious skepticism, and extreme sonic weight. Recorded with a raw, unpretentious production style, the album highlights the interplay between Jim Santoro's thrash-inflected lead work and the band's signature mid-tempo breakdowns. It remains a high-water mark for the genre, bridging the gap between the mosh-centric hardcore of the early 90s and the more technical metalcore that would dominate the following decade.