Kick Me Silly - VC III

“Kick Me Silly - VC III” is a punky punch to the sack. I never doubted a hardcore punk project—guess which band Venomous Concept is named after—featuring grind legends would stare as the blast beats and discordant riffs slowly trickle in and realize the best available option for all parties involved is to peacefully coexist. Venomous Concept’s roster of former and current members of Napalm Death et al. should help kindle the musical brushfires as to the direction “Kick Me Silly - VC III” veers upon, but with an edge of raging humor à la Stormtroopers of Death. The attitude of hardcore punk with the spastic colon of grindcore—safe to say you should probably cover your furniture.

The twenty songs of “Kick Me Silly - VC III” follow familiar territory of its creators’ work. The bursts are short, stocky, menacing, and entrenched in a familiar grind assault. Kevin Sharp, former vocalist of Brutal Truth, serves a raucous sermon of screams and shouts, as expected; the punk tones of the album fit his vocal approach like the foot of a crusty Cinderella slipping into a beat-to-shit sneaker. Venomous Concept takes on a hardcore punk design first and foremost, and thus it should be no major spoiler that the riffing scheme takes after punky bobs and song styles. However, the discordancy of grind dribbles on the organization via blast beats and chaotic riffs, no doubt thanks to the Napalm Death and Brutal Truth members refusing to throw away old habits.

There should be little doubt that the performances are tight and concise; I’d hate to think veteran grind lords would suddenly become sloppy amateurs. I touched a bit on a Stormtroopers of Death vibe, as there is plenty of that off-the-wall nonsense here, particularly in Sharp clucking like a chicken and the blast-laden ode to wanting a cheeseburger wedged near the middle of the album. Venomous Concept’s most daring trick involves throwing out a nasty guitar solo here and there; it’s feasible to proclaim the swell stench of punky grind needs little to spice up the dish. Chunky punk with a grind mind, the likes of which are the heart and soul of Venomous Concept, come easy when Dan Lilker, Shane Embury, Danny Herrera, and Kevin Sharp are driving the ship.

This review was written for: www.Thrashpit.com