ALBUM REVIEW: So Much For The Tolerant Left – Neckbeard Deathcamp

It is often in the midst of draining political struggle that some of the finest art is created, some of which is so closely tied to the event that it’s impossible to imagine the piece being moulded under any other conditions. RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE’s self-titled album fought back against social inequality as well as political violence which was specific to Los Angeles in the early 90s. Even Marvin Gaye’s masterpiece What’s Going On? is, rather subversively, a continued reminder of the atrocities of the Vietnam War, and the horror felt by many citizens back home. There are countless others, but each has a special place in the pantheons of modern culture; if done right, an artist can cement their legacy with a single socio-political statement. In 2019, in the midst of splintered political tensions and mutual hatred, we are gifted with satirical grindcore enthusiasts, NECKBEARD DEATHCAMP.

Since the election of Donald Trump and the EU referendum, politics has grown in its extremities. Both extreme leftist thought and far-right agendas have become more common and present in the public sphere than they were before, and it has inevitably created a hypertension globally. One would think, under such volatile conditions, we could at least be granted some accomplished art with vigour and conviction. Unfortunately we have, at large, not been so lucky. Perhaps we require sufficient retrospect, but any time a band rises up with politically-charged lyrics, they are often met with yawns and groans from the metal fandom at large (perhaps due in part to the quite-often sub-GCSE-debate-club lyrical work). It’s often seen as too basic, too obvious even. One of the refreshing aspects of NECKBEARD DEATHCAMP is their willingness to drop nuance entirely, and reach for the jugular by way of the funny-bone.

NECKBEARD DEATHCAMP make no subtle hints towards their political agenda: this is a wildly anti-fascist group with the sole aim of shaming and, ultimately, wiping out the alt-right presence. In particular, the cellar-dwelling keyboard-warrior sect. It’s a unique target, and makes their art all the more amusing for it. If there was any doubt that the band are not aiming to be taken entirely seriously, one need only look at the credits. On vocals and ‘noise’ is the one and only Kriegmaster Hatestorm, and he is accompanied by fellow musicians Hailz Komradez and Superkammando Uberweinersnitchel – the band’s form of absurdist black comedy is rife throughout their work.

What matters most of course, are the songs. Without well-written songs, a comic-group simply become a gimmick. Thankfully, NECKBEARD DEATHCAMP have bypassed this form of artistry and instead gone for white-hot brutality. It’s a wise move; the humour, much like clear influences ANAL CUNT, comes from the titles and their absurdity rather than the songs themselves. Musically, it’s fairly by-the-numbers grind, but the comic twist does allow them to stand out among the crowd. So Much For The Tolerant Left also boasts a pair of very credibly guest spots. Karl Willetts of MEMORIAM and BOLT THROWER fame and Denis Boardman of DOOM both appear, each armed with a characterful vocal performance which allows this album to rise above simply being a faceless, rabid dirge.

The album does suffer some faults. Primarily, your tolerance for the joke itself is very important here; many of the ‘gags’ feel out of date at this point, and end up making the album seem more toothless than cutting. Bricks Out For Harambe calls upon a joke which was old-hat by the end of 2016, and the continued references to Reddit this band insist on purveying weakens their wit substantially. For a group with a darkly comic mind, one should hope to expect better than this.

Is this the subversive classic we require in such trying times? No, it lacks the nuance that classic political albums of years gone by have accomplished. However, if one is looking for some non-descript grindcore with a humorous left-wing agenda, this is the perfect album. Whether such a fan base exists remains to be seen, but NECKBEARD DEATHCAMP are certainly making the most out of their limited shelf-life here.

Rating: 6/10

So Much For The Tolerant Left is out now via Prosthetic Records. 

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