Vietnom's old-school style of hardcore is altogether refreshing in 2002, when almost all the other hardcore bands are injecting their thrash sounds with lethal doses of metal, melody, or a combination of the two in order to appeal to wider audiences. Instead, Death Is the Outcome is directed toward those more in tune with how hardcore originally was, with meaty slabs of fast-paced thrash guitars and rapid-fire punk drumbeats. Vocalists Scorsese and Nom alternate verses with throaty, street-smart concepts and anthemic lyrics that could incite even the laziest fan into a frenzy of violent proportions. Vietnom shares much in common with the likes of Madball and Skarhead, a resemblance the band surely recognizes since members of each aforementioned group make guest appearances on the album, on the songs "Fake Smile" and "Fall Out," respectively. Death Is the Outcome is an album of respectable integrity and intensity, yet its accomplishments are not forced or demanded -- they are just proven through the music. The band adheres to old-school formats as well, keeping the songs brief, yet allowing them to form their own connections with the listener through tone and attitude. This is menacing thug music for the rough and dedicated worshipers of true hardcore, and Vietnom embodies all that seems to slowly be losing ground in the hardcore scene. Death Is the Outcome has no preconceptions about what it is; there is an obvious old-school energy possessed by this quintet, and if there ever was a band in the 21st century to lead the charge to rekindle those lost feelings of rage and gritty realism, Vietnom is the band. ~ Jason D. Taylor