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On which two big-hitters of today’s UK hardcore punk scene set decades of influence on a thoroughly modern spin cycle.
Hailing from England’s South Coast, ÄTTESTOR knock out 3 songs in just over 3 minutes, the very epitome of fast, angry and tight. Taking inspiration from UKHC of the past (RIPCORD, SPITE), itself aping the hurly burly of 1980’s Boston, MA, there’s an excitable impatience to the piledriver crunch. The band describe their sound as ‘adhd-beat‘ and, with a detectable accent and words you can hear, its an irresistible take. The drummer is razor-edge tight, with a gorgeously snappy snare. The production keeps all the elements working in sync, sharp and clear without losing heft. The Void is the stand out track, a hint of d-beat, gurgling bass and an effectively dissonant second half, but it’s all good. Proof in fact, that ÄTTESTOR are the hungry young(ish) bucks of this record…
… which makes ZERO AGAIN the wise old sages. Either way, they are killing it with these two tracks and, particularly on Damaged Goods, the band bring all of their myriad history to bear. A PENI-esque riff, the metallic heaviness of GRAND COLLAPSE and a WARWOUND rind of crust, rampage over deeply buried subtleties. Spiralling guitar anxiety fights for space with a chugging pace, the latter betraying time spent in metallic punk outfits, but the door is firmly booted in for the breakneck sprint to the finish. Damaged Goods will have you thrumming with excitement but, before you recover, the brutally brief Passing Ritual will throw you through the wall with a pitch-perfect, primal roar of crusty hardcore.
You can tell this band have been around the block a time or two, honing their skills to within an inch of their lives. Equally importantly, they have vision. Boots planted firmly in the present, theirs is a bleak but defiant outlook, coupled with their own brand of desperate, crushing hardcore. Treading similar ground to ENDLESS GRINNING SKULLS, ZERO AGAIN are so much heavier and way more tightly wound. The forthcoming album threatens to be a game changer.
Hardcore punk records, there’s a lot of ’em about. You need this one though…
released 16th September 2022 by TNS Records, in conjunction with Dead Invoice Records (UK), D.I.Y. Kolo Records (Poland) and Carabrecol Records (Spain)
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