EP REVIEW: Blueprint For Self-Destruction – Hands of God

It is admittedly very difficult to ignore the rising racial tensions that are becoming increasingly regular across western societies. Whilst not impossible, you would have a hard time remaining entirely blind to the conflict and aggression rising in certain sects of the populace. One band that aren’t blind to it are HANDS OF GOD, and they’re dead set on making sure everyone knows how pissed they are about it, amongst other things, on their blistering Blueprints For Self-Destruction EP. Hatred on every level becomes the focal point for the young group as they try to catch up on lost time from the year of time off they’ve had.

The opening moments are slower than some might expect immediately out the gate for a band like HANDS OF GOD, but it’s only just build up before the meat of the EP comes swinging with full force. No Mercy is a brutal view about succumbing to violence and lashing out at the world with real force, and with a guest feature of Tyler Mullen from YEAR OF THE KNIFE that adds a further ferocity to an already confrontational opening track. This paints a grim picture for the rest of the EP, and it is justified. The album has a rough and DIY vibe to its mix, with the vocals sounding like they were recorded in a cavernous room. It comes together to give HANDS OF GOD a raw edge that the crystal clear production trend of modern music lacks.

Blueprint For Self-Destruction uses the raw mix as a weapon to really punch home the metal influenced slams of Sacrifice, as the crisp cymbals match the thick guitar work to create a pretty hefty right hook of a sound. The metal influences come out even stronger on the following 245A, the heavy opening riff playing off the anger riled up by the disgusting and unsettling opening sample. Whilst losing momentum as the song progresses in sections, there is one thing HANDS OF GOD have in droves and that’s conviction. No matter what’s happening musically, whether it be the classic hardcore rhythms that allow the band to excel of the metallic lead lines that leave something to be desired, there is a tangible passion imbued into everything on this EP.

Blueprint For Self-Destruction is a blistering display of untethered rage that goes as quickly as it arrives. Whilst causing as much of a scene as possible whilst it’s around, there are some of the multiple elements that fail when compared to the success of others, and its intense prose on challenging subjects might make this more of a slog than some might want to admit. Despite this though, the passion, anger, and all round general contempt for the human race is enough to hold the cracks in this EP together, and makes HANDS OF GOD one of the most confrontational bands on the scene at the moment. Don’t let their comparatively short career and small back catalogue fool you, there is enough here to hold the attention of any hardcore fan looking for a new obsession.

Rating: 7/10

Blueprint For Self-Destruction is out now via Flatspot Records. 

Like HANDS OF GOD on Facebook.