Dirge

Fans of fast music will be familiar with the feeling you should get when listening to grindcore and powerviolence - that vicelike grasp on your testicles, dragging you forward and compelling you to move no matter your current mindset or situation.

Wormrot's sophomore effort, Dirge, initially passed under my radar for some reason, and must say, I am kicking myself for those months lost in sloth when I could have been running into walls or circlepitting alone in my living room. This album is the embodiment of all things fast, loud and ridiculously violent.

Wormrot hail from Singapore and play a modern style of grindcore, with nods to all the old classics. Their first album - Abuse - was a thrashy, fun affair with violence aplenty. This time, they've subtly slipped some powerviolence-esque tempo changes and structures into the mix, with the result being the most raging release I've heard all year. Imagine Kill The Client and Magrudergrind hyped up on amphetamines in a no-holds-barred cage match and you'll have some idea of just how fucking insane Dirge is. The band consists of a guitarist, vocalist and drummer, and to be honest, you don't notice the lack of bass at all because the riffs are so ridiculously well-written and infectious. The vocalist belts out shrieks, grunts and everything in between at the drop of a pin. The drummer knows when to blast and when to groove and keeps the intensity well above recommended levels. All 25 songs pass by in the fastest 18 minutes you're ever likely to hear, with the only moments of respite being the opening and closing tracks. Dirge sounds excellent, the instruments and vocals are very well-balanced but everything still sounds extremely raw - the aural equivalent of a rusty hacksaw.


Anyway, this is the most intense album I've heard in a long time. If you're into any kind of grindcore, do yourself a favor and pick Dirge up. You can thank me later once you're able to move again. - James Frigge

Originally published by http://halifaxcollect.blogspot.com