I can’t help but smile at the short memory that metal fans seem to have. Take, for instance, bands that once released a few good albums, disappeared for a while, and then return to thunderous applause—as if God had sent his son back to Earth—while everyone seems to have forgotten that the band had stopped because their success had faded.
Take Biohazard, for example—the New York-based band that, in the early 1990s, blended hardcore punk with metal and added a touch of hip hop. The band had two vocalists: Evan Seinfeld (also the bassist) and Billy Graziadei (also rhythm guitarist). With Bobby Hambel on board, they had a top-tier guitarist, and drummer Danny Schuler skilfully sealed everything. The classic quartet released a self-titled debut in 1990, which was primarily hardcore. The production was mediocre, likely due to the limited budget of Maze Records, the label that released it.
The then independent label Roadrunner Records, however, saw potential in the band and released their sophomore album, Urban Discipline, in 1992. It showcased Biohazard as a pack of rabid dogs who had fully honed their style. Two years later, State of the World Address was released through the major label Warner Bros., catapulting Biohazard to worldwide fame. With the production finally up to scratch, it remains a rock-solid album to this day, selling nearly 1.5 million copies globally. The band was suddenly mentioned in the same breath as heavyweights like Sepultura, Pantera, and Machine Head.
But the New York bad-boy fairy tale slowly fizzled out. The albums became less good, the labels smaller. Bobby Hambel left the band after State of the World Address, Evan Seinfeld turned to acting (initially in serious productions, later under the alias Spyder Jonez in adult films), and ventured into hip hop with a ludicrously bad project called SVG$. Billy Graziadei released a rather decent solo album as BillyBio, and Biohazard gradually slipped into obscurity. For Uncivilization (2001), the band brought in a truckload of guest appearances (Roger Miret of Agnostic Front, Igor Cavalera, Andreas Kisser and Derrick Green of Sepultura, Sen Dog of Cypress Hill, Phil Anselmo of Pantera, Corey Taylor of Slipknot, Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed, and Peter Steele of Type O Negative), but it came nowhere near the greatness of Urban Discipline or State of the World Address. The band disbanded in 2004, only to reunite in 2008 with the classic lineup. That reunion yielded Reborn in Defiance in 2012—but by the time the album was released, Evan Seinfeld had already packed his bags.
Still, I’m not one to hold a grudge, and since I’ve considered State of the World Address one of my favourite records for many years, I have to admit I’m secretly curious to see how these fifty-somethings are holding up in 2025—31 years after their last major success.
To cut straight to the chase: Divided We Fall is not as good as State of the World Address, nor as strong as Urban Discipline. But then again, that would be a tall order. The good news? It’s also not as bad as the albums Biohazard released in the post-success years—the ones that only ever left my record shelf to be temporarily boxed during a move to a new house. The men may be old, but they’re still angry, as evidenced by the opening track Fuck the System. We’re immediately ensnared in the classic Biohazard web: the dual aggressive vocals of Seinfeld and Graziadei, the shout-along choruses (middle fingers in the air and belting out: “fuck the system!”), Hambel’s tasty solos, and sharp breakdowns. Only drummer Schuler gets a bit of a raw deal — his contribution is mixed further into the background and doesn’t sound quite as punchy.
The same goes for The Fight to be Free: I could’ve done without the background wooohooohooo, but once again Hambel shreds his fingers to bits, and the track is another winner. We’re already halfway through the album, and I notice the volume creeping steadily higher while the grin on my face grows more maniacal by the minute.
Unfortunately, War Inside Me is a weaker track—lots of shouting, little substance. Best to move on quickly to S.I.T.F.O.A., which sadly doesn’t manage to turn the tide. At this point, we’re back in Biohazard’s less glorious era: once again there’s the familiar dual vocals, the easily chantable lyrics, and Hambel’s fine guitar work, but it feels too much like Biohazard trying to sound like Biohazard. Luckily, salvation comes in the form of Tear Down the Walls, which has me nodding along in no time. The path Biohazard walks is a narrow one—step just a little to the side and you’re knee-deep in mediocrity—but when the band hits its stride, good things happen.
And then we come to the truly ferocious I Will Overcome—I can barely contain myself. Biohazard tears through this track like a freight train. The final song, Warriors, isn’t the strongest cut on Divided We Fall, but frankly, I no longer care. Biohazard has managed to deliver a good, engaging, and genuinely interesting album for the first time in ages. It doesn’t top the magic of Urban Discipline, nor the completeness of State of the World Address, but Divided We Fall isn’t far behind those two classic releases. All in all, it’s an impressive comeback—one that, as a long-time follower of the band, I didn’t dare expect. Kudos to the angry men from New York—we’re stomping once again to the rhythm of the Brooklyn beat.
Score:
80/100
Label:
BLKIIBLK Records, 2025
Tracklisting:
- Fuck the System
- Forsaken
- Eyes in Six
- Death of Me
- Word to the Wise
- The Fight ot be Free
- War Inside Me
- S.I.T.F.O.A.
- Tear Down the Walls
- I Will Overcome
- Warriors
Line-up:
- Billy Graziadei – Vocals, guitar
- Evan Seinfeld – Vocals, bass guitar
- Bobby Hambel – Guitar
- Danny Schuler – Drums
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