Magrudergrind - Crusher

I can't decide which one looks cooler? Above is the original Scion art, below the repress art. 

The boys in Magrudergrind seem to always catch an awful lot of flak for "selling out", perhaps more so than any band that's done this Scion A/V shit. I'm not gonna go into the bands dodgy appearance on a crappy TV show, I'm focussing entirely on the Scion thing here. I don't understand why I never hear anybody slagging off Wormrot for doing the same thing? Wormrot's Noise EP is up on some revered grind-pedestal, which I'm glad for, because it's awesome, but what makes them so different? Why do Magrudergrind catch it in the neck so much over this shit? If some useless car company wants to pump money into releasing grindcore music (for free) then what's the issue? Nobody's making you buy a fucking car.

Anyways, Crusher is awesome. It's everything you/we/I love about Magrudergrind rolled up into a nice 11 minute package. I don't think anything'll ever top the self titled album for me, but this is like a condensed version of everything that makes that album awesome. Magrudergrind have this fantastic ability to rip a cripplingly good riff and keep it nice and clear as the blasts and vocal barrage unfold. Mix in a few slow, almost sludgey interludes and a minute or two of sneaky (but not so good) hip hop, and job done! 

Asides from the original Scion A/V release of this EP on vinyl and CD, this has also been re-issued on 10" by Bones Brigade and Kaotoxin Records, on CD by Regurgitated Semen, and again on 10" in the USA by To Live A Lie. So there you go, if you wanna play punk and are against Scion, you can still pick this up off one of several reputed DIY or underground labels. Get in. 

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!

 

Yacopsae / Massgrav - Split 5"

Two bands, four songs - every last one of them covers. Yacopsae's usual frenetic powerviolence noise attack has been dropped here for a more punk, almost progressive (ha ha) take on things. They cover two songs, by Gang Green and Verbal Abuse respectively and they are definitely more laid back on this 5" than the flip-side which features Massgrav, who tear into shit with no fucking remorse! Noisy and very fast, Massgrav clearly are the dominating band on this split. They cover an Eddie Meduza song and even a Swedish translation of Los Crudos' "Asesinos". Strange but true!

 

All in all not a bad release, with massive thanks going to the excellent Regurgitated Semen Records for putting it out. This tiny package is really cool to have, although I have lost it several times within the shelf of 7"s; that fucking thing is so tiny!