Death Toll 80K - Harsh Realities

Death Toll 80K - Harsh Realities
Rodel Records | FDA Rekotz




Arguably the best grindcore album I've heard in 2011, Harsh Realities is not fucking around. Death Toll 80K burst out of the gate, and these Fins do not relent for a second through their 23 tracks of vitriolic violence. That being said, these guys know when to throw in a thrash or death inspired riff to keep things from getting boring, much like classic grindcore bands such as Pig Destroyer, Nasum or Circle of Dead Children.

The whole of everything is then coated in a veneer of crust and thrown at you like a baseball made of worms and coated in viscera. For those who like to know what all the growling is about, Death Toll 80K are into social issues and political commentary, so if that's your thing you'll have to find the lyrics; you're not going to decipher much from these monstrous growls and piercing screams.

Fans of the aforementioned classics and newer grind acts like Insect Warfare, Despise You and Phobia should be overjoyed to hear this album.

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Planks/Narsaak - Split EP

Planks/Narsaak - Split EP
Decoy Industry




Here's a new split from Planks, whose previous full length, The Darkest of Grays, I was a big fan of, and Narsaak who I was previously unaware of. Unfortunately this release has only one track from Planks, who play an aggressive and miserable brand of sludge by way of hardcore punk. Planks was one of the bleakest sludge bands I heard last year, and that's saying something. Fans of groups like Starve and Haarp, and older classics like Grief, Iron Monkey and Noothgrush would do well to listen to these guys.

Also coming from Germany, Narsaak play a slightly more straight forward barrage of crusty hardcore and deliver it quickly and roughly over three tracks here. Narsaak are competent at what they are doing but a whole lot less interesting to me than Planks, so I'm not sure if I would wholeheartedly recommend this release. Definitely seek out The Darkest of Grays by Planks, though, if you're a fan of depressing, angsty sludge. Apparently Planks also has a new album out entitled Solicit to Fall.

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Cara Neir - Stagnant Perceptions

Cara Neir - Stagnant Perceptions
Independent




Cara Neir are a two-piece band out of Dallas, Texas playing an intense blend of black metal, hardcore, crust, screamo (old school) and even some sludge influences. Their latest effort is self-released and will melt your face off with harsh despairing vocals, buzz saw guitar work and some seriously pummeling drums. The production here isn't the best, but with such an aural assault being laid down coupled with the group's adherence to the raw nihilism of black metal, perhaps it's just right after all.

What surprised me was the groups softer, even contemplative moments that show up out of nowhere like a post-rock birthday party. Hello, wasn't expecting to see you here in the dim dusk of all this misery.

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