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Released on February 12, 2016 via Relapse Records
I’ve just found the perfect album to break things to. Windows, wood, wind, hearts… they’re all going to be smashed to the soundtrack of Magrudergrind from now on. Because as aggressive, fast, loud music goes, the Brooklyn, NY trio have hit on the ideal formula.
It may seem strange to talk about dynamics with regards to a band that describes itself as a combination of grindcore and powerviolence (incidentally, two genres that often promise far more than they give), but with Magrudergrind, it is a valid discussion. They blast you, scream at you, wreck your neck and plain pummel you with punk, but they change tack at the right points so as to keep things interesting, but not so often that they have you going cross-eyed.
And in the midst of the din, they aren’t afraid of throwing down some old-fashioned hardcore riffs: ones that creaky old fogeys such as Sick of it All would be proud to call their own.
And they are angry. Man, are they angry. I’m not sure of the specifics of what exactly has got their goat, but titles such as ‘War for Resources’, ‘Incarceration State’ and ‘Pharmicide’ suggest that they haven’t quite bought into the corporate American dream.
At this point I must confess that even though they have been making noise for over a decade, with six albums and all sorts of EPs and splits to their name, I have never heard of Magrudergrind. But I’m definitely going to hunt out their back catalogue.
On ‘II’, ‘War’ and the song which follows it, ‘Sacrificial Hire’, are two highlights. They both start (relatively) slowly, but then slap you in the face with a blast or three. ‘Black Banner’ is also worth a mention. It is the longest song on the album at three and a half minutes and begins at a sedate, growling pace. It lasts little more than a minute, before it descends into chaos, then an excellent hardcore riff emerges. The “urgh!” accents from vocalist Avi Kulawy at each change of tempo brings a bit of rock n roll to the riot.
And thanks to the production from Kurt Ballou – who has worked with the likes of High on Fire and Torche, it all sounds brilliant. Sharp, yet heavy as hell. And like they used to say about the Ramones’ first album, it’s short enough that you can listen to all 15 songs at ear-bleeding volume – breaking stuff if you really want to – and it’ll be over before the police turn up. Perfect.
