Insect Warfare / The Kill - Split 7" Flexi

One really has to questions ones motives when one ends up buying a split that lasts 48 fucking seconds. This nefarious little split tape (limited to some abysmal quantity) was one of things stopping me collecting all of the Insect Warfare stuff, but the good (or bad? Ha ha!) people at Regurgitated Semen Records have taken it upon themselves to re-release the tapes contents on a single-sided flexi. Bastards! Looks like I'll have to get all the Insect Warfare stuff after all!

Unfortunately all we get from Insect Warfare here is a demo version of a track that would later end up on their split 5" with Agoraphobic Nosebleed (which I still don't have, for shame!). The Kill's track I've never heard before, "Dead On The Floor 30 Seconds Into The First Band" actually lasts 00:31, but it's pretty amazing, reminding me yet again to sort my shit out and listen to The Kill more often.

Don't really know what else to say about a 48 second flexi so I'll just leave it at that...

Insect Warfare - World Extermination

Every now and then, in all scenes of music, a band or artist will come along and snowball into something massive. Insect Warfare were an absolutely fantastic grindcore band, so at least in that case they weren't shite as well as overrated. It'll just be the latter then. Phew. I feel bad writing that because I believe and want decent bands to get the attention and exposure that they deserve, but I don't think anyone can deny that Insect Warfare were insanely overrated in the time leading up to their demise. I think statements such as saying World Extermination is the Scum or FETO of our generation are just too goddamn far-fetched. Also I think Earache bastard Records are to blame for the world and his fucking cat owning World Extermination shirts. They must be selling them four for a pound.

Anyway, negativity aside (I genuinely do not mean to be so negative, I guess the sarcasm just takes over! I only mean what I say as an observation), World Extermination is a fucking cracking grindcore record. Those of you into the fast who somehow haven't heard this band (although I think that might be impossible unless you were cryogenically frozen for a few years) need to rectify that right away. Insect Warfare as a band are incredibly tight; and I'm talking forced anal penetration tight. You guys know what I'm talking about, right? Yikes! Even the d-beat sections of songs are devoid of the usual punky slack, which is almost unheard of.

These are, truly, prime cuts of grind; blasting and shredding with machine-like precision. The guitar tone is fat, as is the drum sound, and the absence of a bass guitar is not easily noticeable  Gracing the carnage with an overflowing venom is the frenetic dual vocal attack, completing the perfected grind blueprint. World Extermination is relentless, but it is also not afraid to "slow down" to a pace now and then that allows for a proper riff to sneak in. If you can't head-bang to "Hydraphobia" you don't deserve to have a fucking neck.

This album is everywhere, thanks to Earache, and picking up a copy cheap shouldn't be a problem. In fact, it's a piece of piss. This version here what I got is the original 2nd vinyl pressing on 625 Thrashcore / RSR, which was out before Earache got thier claws into the band. I picked this up almost without thinking, back when I was rich enough to take album recommendations from people on internet forums. I'm fucking glad that I did, though. It has a fucking awesome colour scheme going on and it even comes with a fuck-off bitchin' poster. Grind!

 

V/A - This Box Kills Fascists (Always) - 7 x 7"

So this is the biggest Lines In Wax blog post yet! The mighty grindcore compilation that is This Comp Kills Fascists in 7" box set form: "This Box Kills Fascists (Always)". It was originally released on CD by Relapse in 2008, and then on double 12" LP as a co-release between Relapse and Deep Six Records. In early 2009, this monster version dropped on Relapse, imitating a series of split 7"s. As per usual with Relapse, there is a clear version as well but this is near impossible to find.

Agents of Satan guitar's sound is almost near the crunchiness of stoner fuzz and sludge mess, but coupled with odd hip hop samples and hellish vocals, creates an excited grind sound. On the flip side of disc one, Weekend Nachos bring a more powerviolence type sound, with almost-Benumb style vocals. The production is a bit fatter than the Agents of Satan side but the guitar work is a lot more "metallic".

Disc two bursts open with Kill The Client's hyperspeed distorted grindcore. The drummer makes playing at super fast speeds sound so easy! There is a lot of distortion packed into the sound on this disc, as one side two Spoonful of Vicodin blast through six hits of lo-fi crusty, drug-addled madness.

Maruta have a much more technical approach than all the previous bands, kicking disc three off with an almost death metal feel. The production is a lot more polished, the vocals a lot lower than usual (but still coupled with high screams). The songs are a lot longer too, and Maruta serve up two cuts of pure grinding death hell. It reminds me of 2000s Napalm Death sound with early Pig Destroyer vocals. Good shit! Flip over the disc and find the endlessly awesome Insect Warfare tearing through four heavy as fuck blasts of ripping modern grindcore. If you know Insect Warfare's sound, then there is nothing to describe here other than it's as awesome as ever!

As disc four starts to spin on the deck the first thing that hits me about Shitstorm is the drums; frantic and crazy, yet controlled and technical. They seem higher in the mix more than the mixes some of the other bands uses, but this does not detract from the awesome grind Shitstorm play. Man Will Destroy Himself has a very punk feel to it; raspy vocals spat over simple yet catchy riffs and "normal" drumming is employed instead of endless blasts. It's almost a welcome break in this sea of grinding madness!

Total Fucking Destruction slather up side A of disc five with their usual clusterfuck drumming, agonizingly demented vocals and razor sharp guitar work. TFD is always worth a listen for the grinder with a taste for the abnormal. Wired, jazzy drums litter ridiculous grind numbers and mostly spoken / shouted vocals. Chainsaw To The Face are getting very popular recently and it's easy to see why: hyper hyper fast drumming leads a blistering grind attack topped with barked / growled powerviolence style vocals. Chugging and low vocals even make it a bit death metal like in parts. Something for everyone!

You know Magrudergrind are about to start because of the hip hop samples. The first side of disc six is chock full of the brutality that makes this band so good. They remind me a lot of Wormrot's sound on this particular 7". Side B sees Brutal Truth dropping the death metal tunage for more spazzy grind (possibly Hoak's TFD influence seeping through quite a lot here?). You gotta love Brutal Truth. Upon listening to this I have realized I don't listen to them enough.

Starting disc 7 I am very impressed with Asra. I've never encountered them before. The production is a lot thinner than most on this compilation, reminding me a lot of black metal. Even though the music is strictly grind, the vocals are strictly that of death metal stock, the guitar does go off into some black metal style riffage every now and then. The final band on the comp, Wastoid, also employ super low death metal vocals coupled with crazy shouting that reminds me of an old underground band called Subterranean Fecal Root. The lows are almost identical to those of Embalming Theatre.