ninehertz

Okay, so this came out originally in 2024. And they have had another release since. But in my defence, I’m still writing this review now because (a) Eggy Tapes have just released it on cassette and, more importantly, (b) it rules.

You suspect Eggy Tapes’ first love is noise, but when they foray into grind, crust or doom they tend to only find the primer of the underground, as here with Urine Mask. This is four tracks across twelve minutes, but it uses every one of them so as to feel much longer and, surprisingly, more profound. This latter point is key – for whilst this is crust and grind and all things typically messy, there’s a really considered approach to the release which knocks you back.

You hear it in the superb opener Marching Dead, with its mournful beginning delaying what you might have expected, which when it does arrive is glorious. There’s something truly energising within, even life-affirming as its galloping crust propulsion launches you forward. It is punk, it is vitriolic, but you can’t help feel a warmth from it, in similar ways to emoviolence bands perhaps, without necessarily treading the same musical waters.

Ignorance is faster, d-beat drum patterns and guitar solos taking into the upper echelons of blackened hardcore; Skin is a ball of anger, while Path of Destruction’s buzzsaw guitars and spirited urgency prove to be a bewildering force.

Every now and again a demo or EP arrives from the UK underground that doesn’t just bring promise for a new band, but is already fully fleshed out perfect release that will stay with you for a long time – I’m thinking of Rainydayfuckparade, Jotnarr, Berenice, Groak or others. I may be late to the party, but I’ll be keeping close tabs on them from here on.