Vilipend

Lurching forth from some nightmarish underworld, Toronto, ON's Vilipend lay down three pummelling powerhouse tunes on their latest seven-inch. Drawing from metal and post-punk hardcore, Vilipend reveal some kinship with the Jesus Lizard on the scorching title track. The imagery within "Plague Bearer" is dark enough on the page, but to have Christopher Gramlich unleash the lyrics in his corrosive howl is enough to upset the balance in one's mind. Gramlich is bolstered by an equally demented musical foundation, with a pounding rhythm section that can suddenly turn on a dime, and rich, toughly textured guitar. The quartet strike down upon "Magnificent Desolation" like predators on prey, jarring and wrenching the song about with short, well-timed excursions into 4/4 rock outs. By the end of the distorted stomp of "Dulling Silver," Vilipend exhibit a ton of range, establishing themselves as a compelling new force in Canadian hardcore.