Following a six-year hiatus, grindcore trio Magrudergrind return with their eagerly anticipated new full-length, and Relapse debut, II. But it's as if no time has passed for the Washington, DC band (now based out of Brooklyn, NY), as the album is a natural progression from their 2009 self-titled effort.
Once again working with Converge's Kurt Ballou, II features 15 vicious tracks that embody Magrudergrind's extreme, caustic sound, which incorporates elements of powerviolence and hardcore punk into a traditional grind approach. Each track is a blazing fast race to the finish line amidst abrasive riffs and pummelling drums; tracks like "Imperium In Imperio" and "The Opportunist" are particularly intense and urgent. The vocals are as harsh and angst-ridden as ever, with powerful lyrical content to match, taking on political and social issues.
Magrudergrind still maintain all of the vitriol and chaos that characterized their previous material, but it's clear that they have matured greatly over the years, and tracks like "Sacrificial Hire," "Hara-Kiri" and "Unit 731" are especially diverse and thoughtfully composed. It all amounts to the band's most focused LP yet.
(Relapse)Once again working with Converge's Kurt Ballou, II features 15 vicious tracks that embody Magrudergrind's extreme, caustic sound, which incorporates elements of powerviolence and hardcore punk into a traditional grind approach. Each track is a blazing fast race to the finish line amidst abrasive riffs and pummelling drums; tracks like "Imperium In Imperio" and "The Opportunist" are particularly intense and urgent. The vocals are as harsh and angst-ridden as ever, with powerful lyrical content to match, taking on political and social issues.
Magrudergrind still maintain all of the vitriol and chaos that characterized their previous material, but it's clear that they have matured greatly over the years, and tracks like "Sacrificial Hire," "Hara-Kiri" and "Unit 731" are especially diverse and thoughtfully composed. It all amounts to the band's most focused LP yet.