Reviews

Goat Power Recreation

Choke It’s Hard to Talk Shit With No Fucking Teeth cassette

This is insane, clobbering, grinding hardcore chock full of samples and breakdowns. Crucially intimidating HXC from Oakland killing it on the blasts and mic. Recalling MERAUDER, KRUELTY, NEGLECT, DMIZE, OUT OF LINE, and INFEST…slam your head to this whirlwind of thrash and anthemic powerviolence. The rage really comes forth in “Blue Lives Don’t Mean Shit” (true) and “Talk Shit, Get Hit.” They even got Greta Thunberg’s infamous maddening distraught public statement on here, and covers of APARTMENT 213 and MADBALL! I don’t always go in for this style of hardcore, but holy shit, is this great. Rhythms are harsh as hell, surprising change-ups, inspired lyrics, and the message is clear. Various vocalists guest-spot on this tape. “You Suffer and React” (the song by the band) style jams on here with the five-second “You Failed, Now Die.” Yes, super fucking clear; like I said. And some slower beatdowns like “Why Should I Fear Death When I’m Already Dead Inside?” Valid. CHOKE sounds like a truly dedicated family member of hardcore. CHOKE will get a hold of your neck and mind. This is a fantastic tape for the assertion of contemporary punk grind and hardcore music.

Merked Merked cassette

Walking that tightrope between powerviolence and straight up grindcore, MERKED seems to fit right in the middle somewhere with a style that I have seen referred to as grind-violence. Seventeen tracks of pummeling, heavy, slow, and brutal followed by relentless and fast riffs, very few of which break even the one-minute mark. Pepper in a bunch of sound clips and you can surely recognize the recipe. For fans of NO LESS, IN DISGUST, and anything in-between.

Merked Good Night cassette

Latest release by Oakland grindcore trio MERKED. CARCASS/NAPALM DEATH-style grindcore, but also reminds me a bit of a less crusty version of pre-DYSTOPIA death/grind band CARCINOGEN. Heavy yet intense short bursts of sickened energy. No piccolo snare or slam parts here, to which punks can better relate.

Merked / V.V.M. split cassette

This split release from MERKED and V.V.M. is a wild ride from start to finish. On the MERKED side, the Oakland-based three-piece brings their self-described “hardcore-influenced sludge-violence,” which is definitely music with a thick neck. The tunes and sound clips are a chaotic mix with screaming and croaking vocals delivered with production that makes it feel like you’re hearing this madness being played live in a large cement room. As for V.V.M., this San Francisco thrashcore four-piece brings the noise with a cowbell, and it’s some of the best shit I’ve heard this month. Tracks like “Fuck You, I Quit” and “I Used to Mosh” really hit a sweet spot in my middle-aged soul. Strong recommend for people who aren’t assholes.

V.V.M. Crucial Burger cassette

San Francisco fastcore thrasher outfit that exults fun in their execution, featuring members of VENKMAN, THESE BASTARDS, CONQUEST FOR DEATH and more. Resemblances to the classic and most acidic side of ’80s USHC, holding down histrionic, maddening cadences that approach the one-minute length while delivering great hardcore punk throughout the ten tracks, including blastbeats, breakdowns and even crazy space-like sounds that relieve the non-stop nature of their songs. Bay Area-infused and well-executed, it’s a delightful option for the fastcore aficionado’s cravings.