DEATHRAID

To crust or not to crust; that is the question. On "All Life Ends" DEATHRAID answers that question in terms that are so definitive it's ridiculous. We're talking D-beat, DISCHARGE, and a mouth full of blood and broken teeth definitive. The words "raw" and "infected" also come to mind.

Featuring ex-members of DISRUPT, STATE OF FEAR, CONSUME, and DECREPIT, the Seattle rabble's sophomore album represents the true and the blue of D-beaten crust punk. It doesn't break down any doors, metaphorically speaking (literally speaking, that's a different story),and it also couldn't be a more merciless example of the virus's lethality. Killer tone, scalding riffs ("Lay Down The Law" is monstrous),venom-spat vocals, and those gloriously driving rhythms go along with songwriting that is all about the kill shot, yet alters trajectory enough to stave off track-blur. One of the better examples — and a standout track — is "Citizen Scapegoat", which is as much Bronze-era MOTÖRHEAD as it is crust punk, particularly that Fast Eddie Clarke tone/style. Then again, punk and early MOTÖRHEAD were anything but strange bed fellows. But mostly "All Life Ends" is about killing, killing again, and leaving a crust flecked corpse.

Perhaps the best news is that you can obtain these 14 tracks at the bargain basement price of pay-what-you-want from Moshpit Tragedy (www.moshpittragedy.com). Oh sure, you can download it for free, but steer clear of d-baggery and make at least a small donation, as I did. Or you can purchase the vinyl LP from Agipunk Records, assuming it's not sold out; I haven't checked. In either case, you'll find "All Life Ends" to be a tough little bugger that'll loosen the wax in your ears and smack the smile off your face. You can't fake this stuff.