As one might guess, the recently released Magrudergrind/Shitstorm split CD on Robotic Empire is a series of explosive bursts of high-speed grind with 24 tracks in just 22 minutes. Magrudergrind wastes no time kicking things off with generally fast, generally tight grindcore that musically tends to follow the classic framework of the genre while vocally dealing with completely indecipherable barks/cackles that deliver somewhat of a message within plenty of smartass humor and lightheartedness. Honestly I've never been much of a fan of these particular vocal styles, but I'm all over the music, so the raging breakdowns and tactful speeds make up for it. If these cats were around in the 90's the Slap-A-Ham crowd would've been all over 'em.
The same probably goes for Shitstorm. The band contains members of Torche and tackles a similar brand of grind to their splitmates, but with lightly distorted vocals and a slightly rawer sound that has an oddly warped feel to it at times. I think a lot of that comes from the recording, where there's a lot of potential in the badass riffing department, but I'd toss the vocal effects and try to do something to keep the guitars from getting shuffled around by the nice, natural thump that the blastbeats have got going on. The speeds tend to be very well executed, and some of the classic sounding grindcore breaks are complete ragers. Only one track hits a minute, and I'd say these cats sound a smidge darker than Magrudergrind, too. There's still a little sense of humor in there, but it's delivered in a more pissed off manner, I guess?
Magrudergrind "Organized Cell Death"
Magrudergrind "Emo Holocaust"
Shitstorm "World of Shit"
Shitstorm "Anxiety"
This one's definitely growing on me, but it took a few spins for the damage to break through. Not too shabby. It's $8. That's like .37 cents per minute of ripping grind. Don't be a douche. Buy it if you like it:
Comments
Good Stuff, especially About the Fire. Those vocals ARE fuckin killer. I can honostly say I’ve never heard a band like that with those kind of vocals. No way am I writing this band off.
3.21.2006 | By Adrianoso
i picked up the ruiner disc from reptilian in baltimore and was rockin’ it on repeat all the way back to my pad outside of philly. its a pretty sweet mix of new and old hardcore, reminds me alot of the way the first modern life is war album leaves you. not as epic… though still rockin’. to me, there seems to be a new mix or group of hardcore rockin’ it a little different these days… like dead hearts, this is hell, modern life is war, and etc…
3.21.2006 | By Anonymous
About the Fire is fucking good. I’m going to have to get the EP and the full length.
3.22.2006 | By Tyrone
Ruiner is fucking cool! I dig shit like this; hard to pull off these days w/o sounding like a clone and they manage to make a racket all their own…nice!
3.22.2006 | By The Corpse Glide
About The Fire is kick ass good. Vocals sometimes remind me of old Mighty Mighty Bosstones. (brooklyn)
3.23.2006 | By Anonymous
Ruiner is great, they’re constantly touring and are recording an LP sooner or later. they also have a split 7” with Day of the Dead.
3.24.2006 | By Jeff
Leave it to me to comment on Magrudergrind, who are some of the nicest dudes ever. I love them live, but for reason I haven’t really been able to get into their recordings. This one seems to be better than the others, so hopefully that’ll change.
The rest of the bands…didn’t really do it for me.
3.30.2006 | By Carlzilla
About The Fire may be the single best band I have heard in 3 months or more. I was hooked from the very first song and cannot get enough. Thanks for turning me on to this band. Also, I agree with whoever made the Mighty, Mighty comment-much better vocally here in my opinion though.
4.1.2006 | By Anonymous
I can’t thank you guys enough, not only for the kind words but for just listening and giving a shit about your scene. Seriously, you just made my day.
~Fat Sammy/ATF
4.20.2006 | By Fat Sammy
That UltraDolphins cut totally grew on me. I just bought it.
4.29.2006 | By The Radio Man