When two of the most buzzed-about names in contemporary hardcore—Pain of Truth and Sunami—come together for a split, expectations are understandably sky-high. Known for their raw intensity, pit-clearing riffs, and no-nonsense approach to heaviness, both bands have built reputations for delivering the kind of music that makes you want to throw a trash can through a wall. And yet, Coast to Coast doesn’t quite hit with the force it should.

To be clear, the split isn’t bad. There’s more than enough groove, aggression, and mosh-ready energy to satisfy diehards. But given the weight both names carry in the hardcore scene, the end result feels surprisingly restrained. Rather than pushing boundaries or introducing new wrinkles in their sound, both bands mostly stick to familiar formulas—reliable, yes, but lacking the urgency or innovation that might have elevated this from solid to essential.

Pain of Truth opens the split in familiar territory. Their first track, “Shattered Past,” leans hard into their signature style: groovy, downtuned riffing with a thick, menacing tone. The drums hit hard, the guitars are sharp and deliberate, and the vocals carry the usual barked authority. It’s a textbook PoT track—aggressive and well-structured—but it doesn’t do much to distinguish itself from their previous work. You can feel the intensity, but there’s little in the way of surprise or standout moments.

“The Enemy” fares better, with a more dynamic build driven by cymbal crashes and controlled drum fills that give the song a bigger, more expansive feel. The riffs land harder, and the bass adds a deeper sense of weight. The highlight here is the gang-style backing vocals, which bring an anthemic edge and inject a dose of crowd-killing energy. Still, even at its strongest, the track feels like it's operating well within the band’s comfort zone.

Sunami’s side of the split picks up where Pain of Truth leaves off, though with slightly more finesse. “Doubt” introduces tighter vocal control and a clearer production mix, with the bass sitting nicely beneath crunchy guitar tones. There’s a sharpness here that hints at refinement, but it’s somewhat undercut by a strange drum mix—almost too clean, with a “popping” quality that lacks the punch and grit typically associated with Sunami’s style.

“Fence Walker” is more in line with what fans might expect: thick, chugging riffs balanced against slightly more groovy passages. The vocals feel more locked in, and there’s a noticeable clarity to the mix that gives each instrument room to breathe. It’s a solid closer with good pacing and energy, but again, the track never quite explodes in the way previous Sunami material has. There’s a level of chaos or unpredictability that feels missing.

In the end, Coast to Coast is a release that plays it safe. Both bands double down on what they already do well—tight riffing, aggressive vocals, and breakdowns built for destruction—but they don’t push themselves or the genre in any notable new direction. For longtime fans, it’s still an enjoyable listen; the fundamentals are here, and the heaviness hits where it counts. But for those hoping this collaboration would be something more than the sum of its parts, the split might leave you wanting.

It’s a reminder that while consistency has its place in hardcore, a little risk can go a long way—and Coast to Coast feels like a missed opportunity to do exactly that.

Rating: 6.5/10