EP REVIEW: Burning Earth – Lethal Minds / Hour Of Reprisal

Preston and Norwich probably aren’t the first places that come to mind when one thinks of thriving hubs of UK hardcore but in LETHAL MINDS and HOUR OF REPRISAL the two cities have respectively produced two of the country’s very best up and comers. Both have released killer EPs within the past 18 months (the former’s Cultus in October 2022, and the latter’s A New World From The Ashes Of The Old in May last year) and now they join forces for the Burning Earth split which demonstrates their kindred spirit not just sonically but also ideologically.

LETHAL MINDS are up first and the Prestonians emerge from the sound of sirens as they get to their typically destructive business with the nasty mid-tempo crusher Lie Cheat Steal. As those familiar with these bands will surely expect, here and throughout both sides of the EP the lyrics hit just as hard as any riff or breakdown either may throw at the listener, with this first track asking “While people freeze in their homes as you turn a bigger profit / How can I respect the pricks that piss on us?”. Joe from HOUR OF REPRISAL features here too, trading off vicious snarls with LETHAL MINDS’ Oli who goes on to return the favour on HOR’s Inhumanitarian on the other side.

Next track Utter Contempt is just as punishing, a no-frills mosh call of “You’re an ignorant fool” bringing in an ignorant breakdown to match in arguably the hardest moment of the LETHAL MINDS side of the split before HOUR OF REPRISAL essentially pick up where they left off last year. The band’s chugging riffs, punchy drums and squeaky, skronky guitar parts or whatever you want to call them may all be relatively par for the course for this kind of ugly metallic hardcore style but they’re set apart considerably by Joe’s twisted vocals, as well as the unflinching lyrical venom of course. The aforementioned Inhumanitarian has some sick pinch harmonic riffs and another disgusting breakdown, while closer World Writhes In Pain is elevated by the guttural fury of Harry Nott of UK death metal/hardcore darlings BURNER to bring the EP to a frankly heinous close.

Overall this split is a no brainer really; if you like one of these bands you’re going to like the other if you don’t already and the material that each has contributed here is every bit as pissed off and punishing as that which made their previous releases so impressive. If this is the first you’re hearing of either of them then definitely go back to those records too because you will not be disappointed, and most importantly be sure to catch them at a show as soon as you can because both are arguably even more ferocious live, as indeed all the best hardcore is.

Rating: 8/10

Burning Earth is set for release on January 12th via self-release.

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