BLAST PICKS: March 2021

Here at Distorted Sound we pride ourselves on highlighting some of the best upcoming bands. We believe that there are a million hidden gems out there that are dying to be discovered and we’ve made it our mission over the years to help uncover some. Now, we welcome March’s edition of Blast Picks, featuring some of the best upcoming bands in grindcore, powerviolence and fastcore. Our writer, Matthew Tilt, will be launching some of the gnarliest music your way to melt your face.

Well, hell. February went by quicker than a hiccup and now March is nearly over. Fear not, a delayed Blast Picks simply means you get more blasts for the buck. 2021 has already been a stellar year for grinding, PV madness and here is the best of the bunch.

WORLD PEACE – Come And See, Twelve Gauge Records

Twenty tracks in less than twenty minutes. This Californian three-piece don’t mess around, delivering a punishing listening experience that never lets up the pace. Fans of VACCINE and WATER TORTURE will find plenty to love here, but WORLD PEACE don’t just sit around and emulate; each track find new and original to batter you around the head.

Picking highlights is almost impossible, but the breakneck speed of He Who’s Cup Runneth Over is awesome, as is the groovy In Excelsis Duo, which runs over into Atrophied Muscles of Atlas. Breathless vocals, squealing basslines and inhuman drumming make this a monumental entry into the power violence canon.

JARHEAD FERTILIZER – Product Of My Environment, Closed Casket Activities

JARHEAD FERTILIZER sound disgusting. Taking a leaf out of the early CARCASS playbook, their latest album is all squelchy vocals and groovy, bass heavy backings. Eschewing short blasts for longer, death metal inspired grind, these guys sound like a throwback in the best possible way.

Tracks like Paranoia Seeping show off their speed credentials, while tricky time signatures and discordant breakdowns are sure to send the pits crazy (when we can finally throw ourselves into the mix again). The sample-heavy, distorted electronics of Agony Churning switches things up momentarily before the closer, Life Is A Prison, which brings us full circle with another dose of sickening, slamming violence.

REGIONAL JUSTICE CENTER – Crime And Punishment, Closed Casket Activities

Another delectable release from Closed Casket Activities, showing the versatility of the genre with this D-beat inspired fastcore spree. REGIONAL JUSTICE CENTER have garnered quite the reputation for no-thrills grind, and these ten tracks are filled with the fast/slow, off-kilter beats that blast addicts love.

Crime And Punishment is their most intense offering yet. Savage, mid-paced riffs fall away into breakdowns and superhuman speed, while vocalist/drummer Ian Shelton channels his frustrations with a breathless, furious performance. Absolutely vital.

WEAK TIES – Find A Way, Per Koro Records/Contraszt! Records

German four-piece WEAK TIES have quietly etched out a reputation as one of the best punk bands going today. Sounding like PUNCH started doing 80’s hardcore covers, there’s piss and vinegar abound.

Each of the sixteen tracks shows a different side to the band and it’s great to see their continued growth. Sorry But Not Today Pt. II sees them extend the formula to nearly four minutes and is akin to CEREMONY’s The Doldrums (Friendly City), with Laura putting in a powerful post-punk vocal performance in between the CHARLES BRONSON shouts. But don’t let that put you off if you like it fast all the time, there’s still plenty here to love.

TERMINAL BLISS – Brute Err/atta!, Relapse Records

Featuring members of PG.99, IRON REAGAN, and CITY OF CATERPILLAR, TERMINAL BLISS have all the grinding potential you could want and don’t disappoint on their debut release. Tracks fly past in a disorientating wave of thrash infused grind, with everything merging into a punishing nightmare.

Taking experimental, socially conscious cues from bands like CRASS, but playing like they’re being chased like someone, TERMINAL BLISS create a listening experience that’s nothing sort of extraordinary. Check out March Of The Grieving Droid if you want a taster of just how unrelenting these guys are.

TØRSÖ – Home Wrecked, Revelation Records

Dealing with the infiltration of the punk scene by misogynists, abusers, racists and all manner of undesirables, as well as the gentrification of the Bay Area, Californian D-beaters TØRSÖ pull no punches with this three-track EP. Blistering from start to finish with a ferocious vocal performance from Mae Toone.

Home Wrecked and Weightless see the band at the very top of their game and the EP ends with a vicious rendition of THE FAITH’s You’re X’d. Punk should be conscious of its environment and there are few doing it better than TØRSÖ.

And that rounds off our next entry of Blast Picks! Be sure to keep posted to Distorted Sound as we bring your our next entry of all things grind and powerviolence very soon! To keep up to date with all our Blast Pick entries you can find them here.