ninehertz

This was the tonic I needed - in the blur of life, work and responsibilities, the return of Cell Press, via an EP that rages by in around seventeen minutes, provided a shot in the arm.

Their Cages and self-titled albums are firm favourites at ninehertz, and whilst I’d have loved for more than the four tracks of Tabula Rasa, a return of any length is most welcome. This is reaffirmed perfectly as Hot Rod to Gehenna blasts opens proceedings. Barking vocals snap out at you over a satisfying riff-based hardcore with elements of math and grind. As ever, there’s some noise-rock in here too between frenetic Converge-ish chaos. It is superb.

Last Aid Kit leans more on their noise-rock side, obvious references to Unsane ferment but maybe more directly a kinship with KEN Mode, through its fierce vocals and jumpy instrumentation. Terminal Commuter is an oddity, two minutes of warped percussion and noise.

It ends with Orphan-Crushing Machine, discordant in an extremely noisy way, with a buzzing wall of electricity built primarily through the drums. It turns once more to their signature noise-rock hardcore warrior combo, creating manic bliss in its union. The slowed down, exhausted but almost euphoric sounding ending proves a wonderful way to sign off a triumphant, if too brief return.