Many people aren’t prepared when their long-running hardcore band comes to an end. Ruiner called it quits in 2010, and several ex-members — Dustin Thornton, Stephen Smeal, and Joey Edwards — have formed a new band, one that takes a slight detour from their old band both musically and lyrically.

The music on this album splits the difference between slow-burning post hardcore and lurching noise rock. The bass and drums are as important as the guitars; in fact, Smeal’s bass plays a prominent role in many of the songs. It’s often the first thing you hear, and it locks into a pummeling groove with Edwards’ drums; meanwhile, Thornton throws a discordant riffs and accents over the rhythm section.

Many of the songs start deliberately and build to an epic climax. Regardless, they have not lost their sense of urgency — comparing Holy Tongues to Ruiner is akin to comparing Fugazi to Minor Threat.

The lyrics frequently address the trials and tribulations of growing up in a hardcore band and in the underground music scene. This is spelled out plainly in “Bright Light,” as the lyrics make mention of at one time being a “bright light” but now just being “crooked teeth and bad tattoos.” This brutal honesty gives the album its power. You feel like the band needed to write these songs in order to make some sense out of their situation and to help provide a catharsis.  It may be a little downbeat, but it’s not meant to bring people down — it’s meant to help them get some stuff out of their system.

Holy Tongues’ debut is the sound of a band purging some personal demons and emerging from the other side better off. Having a bad day? Put this on and let it help you get over whatever is troubling you.

(Melotov Records, 21720 Redwood Canyon Pl., Santa Clarita, CA 91390)