Backfire! – The Last Confession

I was delighted when the latest parcel from WTF Records/Qabar PR landed at my doorstep. I’m referring to both the CD digipak and colored 12-inch vinyl by Dutch hardcore legends Backfire!, released through WTF Records. That was the good news, but the bad news is that with this EP, the Maastricht (The Netherlands) band closes the books for good. After a career spanning more than 32 years, they’re giving their devoted followers one last shot before the curtain falls for the final time.

The current—or should we say final—line-up of the band is comprised of Marco Swaan (vocals), Wybrand Brouwer (guitar), Frank Soeren (bass), Harm Haverman (guitar), and Igor Wouters (drums). It is also worth noting that the original singer, Pat, who stepped back some time ago, engages in a final emotional duel with Marco Swaan. The Last Confession is a mini-album consisting of five tracks that represent the band perfectly. In the case of Backfire!, this implies old-school, uncompromising hardcore, much like the NYHC style of bands such as Madball, Agnostic Front, and Biohazard.

Despite its short length, The Last Confession is a varied and diverse five-track mini-album, opening with “How Strong I Can Be,” which features some virtuosic guitar work. Clocking in at just under two minutes, it is a blistering, punchy, and straightforward hardcore anthem that immediately sets the tone for the rest of the EP. The next song is one of the EP’s fast-rippers, “Means to Your End”—the fastest and most urgent cut here, driven by a frantic pace and featuring an impressive opening scream. “Hate to Break It” is a relentless highlight on the record; clocking in at only 1:48, it is a short, fast, and punchy track. Next follows the anthemic “Fallen Rebels,” acting as a direct nod to the band’s history and the famed ‘M-Town Rebels’ (the name for the local hardcore scene in Maastricht). The track serves as a nostalgic, fist-in-the-air anthem that is punchy, high-impact, and features a relentlessly driving tempo. It captures the spirit of community and the band’s history. “Shed My Skin” carries a dark, intense atmosphere—a worthy conclusion to this mini-album and the entire career of this iconic Dutch band.

The vocals featured on this EP sound wonderfully raw, supported by incredibly powerful drumming, driving, memorable, groovy riffs, and the gritty, metallic, overdriven tone of the bass. The production is thick and driving, while the cover artwork is presented in a black-and-white, gritty DIY punk aesthetic, capturing a raw, high-energy live performance of the band. Finally, the tight atmosphere and vibe of the EP are built on specific sonic and emotional details, like a calculated ending with melancholic undertones.

The Last Confession EP is a definitive and honest conclusion to one of Europe’s most influential hardcore acts. Thus, if you are looking to secure a physical copy, the album is available on CD digipak and colored 12-inch vinyl through WTF Records. Dig into The Last Confession and these five final salutes below, and hit up WTF Records to order it before it completely sells out!

Thank you, Backfire!, for 32 years of hardcore in the vein of Madball, Agnostic Front, Cro-Mags, Biohazard, and Terror, always delivered with a personal touch.