EP REVIEW: Weapon Of Pleasure – XweaponX & World Of Pleasure

Both proudly flying the flag for straight edge hardcore in 2023, Louisville’s XWEAPONX and Calgary’s WORLD OF PLEASURE have put their considerable and furious talents together for a surprise split EP that takes the apt title of Weapon Of Pleasure. The bands’ mission here is simple – “straight edge domination” as they put in Domination III – and God help anyone who tries to stand in their way.

Of course, neither the content nor the quality of this EP should come as much of a surprise to anyone familiar with either of these bands’ previous efforts. XWEAPONX – who count among their line-up members of KNOCKED LOOSE, HARM’S WAY and TWO WITNESSES – didn’t pull any punches on their excellent demo from last year and they remain just as ready to throw hands here. “This is a war fought only in vengeance / This is a debt paid only in blood”, they insist in opener Paid In Blood, with vocalist Dave Baugher gradually joined by the rest of the band in a chug-heavy gang vocal shout-along that lays bare the five-piece’s merciless mentality. If you’re not a fan of that more militant strand of straight edge hardcore you should probably step away now because neither of these bands are likely to miss you.

Turning to the WORLD OF PLEASURE half, the Canadians peddle a similarly forceful take on metallic hardcore to that of their split-mates, as indeed they have done on the absolutely vicious demo and EP they’ve released since their formation in 2020. They’re marked out most of all by the bark of vocalist Jess Nyx (also of MORTALITY RATE), who also lends her talents to the aforementioned Domination III on the XWEAPONX half. Nyx’s vocals are piercingly savage, and they provide the perfect vehicle for the sheer venom she directs towards those who refuse to commit to, or – even worse – turn their backs on, the straight edge lifestyle. “My hate for you is not a secret / You made a vow and fucking didn’t keep it”, Nyx screams in closer Uzis Akimbo; told you they wouldn’t miss you.

With the EP coming in well under the ten-minute mark, there isn’t loads else to report here. This is a short and savage little team-up from two bands who are wholly devoted to their cause and most importantly who have the ferocious metallic hardcore chops to back them up. The complete refusal to waver from their militant straight edge message might turn a few listeners off, but that certainly isn’t of concern to either of these bands, and in fact they make it very clear what they think, and indeed what they’ll do, to anyone who does have an issue with that. Straight edge domination guaranteed.

Rating: 8/10

Weapon Of Pleasure is out now via DAZE.

Like DAZE on Facebook.