Whoredom

This is the 2020 full-length debut of Manila‘s blackened punk duo, Dischrist. The variant of the album that I have is the limited edition cassette format under Metal Choice Cut Records, which was unleashed over a month after the original release date of the record. The cassette’s raw and analog sound perfectly complements the unpolished ferocity of the nature of the group’s music, making it a prized possession for collectors of extreme music formats.

Now, we all know that punk and black metal are coequal genres with wayward schools of thought. Yet, these two classes of music sound very different from each other and are distinct in lyrical themes and aesthetics. However, they both usually go arm in arm, especially in their ethos of rebellion and their raw, unfiltered approach to sound and composition. Over the years we all have witnessed good examples of black metal groups blending their music with hardcore or crust punk elements and bringing forth some triumphant aftermaths. Although at first listen this fusion may seem odd to many, it does often results in groundbreaking and intensely satisfying releases. Dischrist is one of the bold acts that dared to take on this musical formula, and the result is their full-length debut, “Whoredom.”

“Whoredom” is an offering that unleashes a merciless onslaught of infernal soundstorm, perfect for extreme music enthusiasts who thirst for a fierce fusion of fury and rawness. The release is an infectious mixture of black metal’s blasphemous violence and punk aesthetic delivered directly to the brain. Every track in this album is ugly (in a good way) and raw, designed to assault human senses with unbridled intensity. From the first crushing blow, the first actual song after the intro punches the listener right in the face with aggressive, metallic punk guitar riffs that are extremely thin and cold. Meanwhile, the drumming pounds away with hasty skank beats and d-beats, driving the pace forward with a furious urgency. The vocal delivery is nothing short of ferocious—a vengeful scream that feels like a pissed-off tormentor from hell breaking through to the mortal realm to unleash chaos.

There’s no room for subtlety or variation in this offering, and that’s exactly the point. This material is a flurry of high-speed and rapid-fire drum rhythms, heavily distorted guitar onslaught, and shrieking vocals compressed into 11 minutes of unrelenting audio violence. It’s not pretty music, nor is it meant to be. The ‘primitivism’ in this debut is as direct as a punch to the face, capturing the essence of both punk’s raw immediacy and black metal’s bleak aggression. The production, while raw, captures the chaotic energy perfectly, giving each instrument enough space to wreak its havoc while maintaining an oppressive atmosphere. It’s a ceaseless barrage of auditory obliteration, a perfect representation of the bleak urban landscapes and societal decay that Dischrist channels through their music.

For those extreme metal fans who aren’t terrified of pure rawness and gruesomeness in a record, “Whoredom” is a slab of true harsh music that I highly recommend you track down and add to your collection. The album stands as a testament to the duo’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of what blackened punk can be, merging the furious intensity of punk with the grim ferocity of black metal. It’s an exceptional offering from a Filipino duo that has carved out a distinct enclave of riotous reverberations in the Philippines‘ extreme music scene. If you’re looking for a new favorite in your collection, Dischrist‘s “Whoredom” should be it—an unrefined, uncompromising storm that’s both challenging and rewarding to the dedicated listener.