Means to an End

Biohazard | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 30, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Steamhammer / SPV
• ASIN: B0009SQ38G
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #105,831 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Biohazard have always been controversial, as well as radical and uncompromising. The message of their lyrics rigorously documents the way they see themselves and their provocative, critical attitude towards the US establishment. "The guys with money are gangsters, dealers or part of the Mafia. What does that tell young people? That the American dream is a pile of shit," reads a statement from one of their most renowned interviews. Two and a half years after the arrival of Kill Or Be Killed, their latest album, Means To An End, is ready for release, celebrating this unconventional band’s familiar hard-as-nails mix of hardcore, metal, punk and heavy drum attacks. Biohazard enlisted the renowned cover artist Ioannis to design the artwork of their current release.

Artistically, Biohazard have improved with every new album, true to their maxim of continuous development. "It’s important to crawl before you learn to walk. That has always been our motto," band founder Evan Seinfeld explains, arriving at the conclusion: "At some point you may even be able to fly." In the eyes of their fans, Biohazard learned to fly a long time ago, earning themselves a reputation as a true cult band in over one and a half decades. Autobiographical numbers like My Life, My Way, Filled With Hate or The Fire Burns Inside on Means To An End prove that these musicians are still driven by their anger about the injustice of this world.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, August 30, 2005

By 

Big Dom "mikthemik" (Staten Island, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Means to an End (Audio CD)

it took Biohazard 10 years to make this album and let me tell you it was well worth the wait. Everyone knows that since Bobby left they have been making pretty good albums and questionable albums. This one will make you forget Bobby was even there. The riffs are classic Bio none of that dropped a tuning like on Kill or be Killed or the almost nu-metal on Uncivilization. These are the hardcore meets metal anthems that Bio was known for back in the day and they sound fresh and killer now in this musical landscape full of wanna be's. If you like Urban Discipline and State of The World Adress era 'hazard then do yourself a favor and pick up this gem of NYC hostility.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another solid Biohazard offering, September 2, 2005

By 

A. Stutheit "Teyad" (Denver, CO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Means to an End (Audio CD)

Most great bands spend their careers evolving. They will make albums which show the band's growth and maturity; they don't necessarily have to be experimental albums, but they are distinguishable form one another. Then, several albums later, the band comes full circle by making a "back to our roots" album--one which sounds like their earlier albums. Korn and Cypress Hill are two examples of this.

Biohazard, however, spent almost their whole career perfecting their rap-rock formula. Since their 1990 debut, they have tinkered with their sound very slightly--if at all. 2003's "Kill or Be Killed," which extinguished the hip-hop vocals, was Biohazard's first distinguishable album. But Biohazard's new album, this year's "Means to an End," re-adopts the hip-hop influence. This album brings this group back to their roots, and sounds like them circa 1992-1994. Unfortunately, I don't think this Brooklyn-based quartet evolved enough during their career to make a "back to basics" album. Thus,"Means to an End" doesn't bring Biohazard full circle; it's more of a retread. It's almost as if Evan Seinfeld and the gang said "Nuts to this, let's just make an updated version of `Urban Discipline.'"

On the other hand, this might be Biohazard's last album, so it's probably best for them to ride out on the horse they rode in on. Experimental albums could be a disaster for a band, and I don't think someone should end their career with an album that might suck. Thus, it's a wise move for Biohazard to make a back-to-bludgeoning-basics album.

Highlights include:

"My Life, My Way" has booming riffs and (what sounds like) a police siren. And, of course, a very Biohazard-esque shout-along refrain is also included.
"The Fire Burns Inside" has more heavy guitar work, but this song stands out because it has some Hatebreed-esque lyrics: "If you live for nothing, you'll never know why!"
"Filled with Hate" is a highlight because for its lumbering riffs (which almost groove in places), and it even has a guitar solo which is pretty long.
"Break It Away from Me" combines fast hand drumming with riffs which are almost fast enough to sound like a buzzsaw.
"Don't Stand Alone" is a personal favorite, because it might be this record's most aggressive track. The guitar and drum work (which is the fastest on the album) attack like rabid dogs, and lead vocalist Evan Seinfeld is foaming at the mouth with rage.

It's not a great album, but (from the loud riffs, to snarly, trade-off rapping, to concert ready shout-along choruses), "Means to an End" has every ingredient for a solid, trademark Biohazard album. No, it won't convert you if you never liked this band, but this album should definitely please all of Biohazard's fans. And, in the end, what more could you ask for?

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Farewell?", August 30, 2005

By 

Michael Harper "kilinkind" (Cincinnati, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Means to an End (Audio CD)

This album has a "State Of The World Address" feel to it. If this indeed is their last album I'm glad they at least when back to the original Biohazard sound... Close to it anyway. But I'm not knocking any of their previous releases. Personally I think they are all worth picking up. I hope they change their mind and record some more material.