HELLSHOCK/EFFIGY

Out from the Dark Side

Crimes Against Humanity

7.5 / 10

Track listing:

HELLSHOCK
01. All is Well
02. Generals Die in Bed
03. Bloodsuckers
04. Life Styles
EFFIGY
05. Choice of Darkness
06. The Day the Devil Reigned
07. Dictator

If crust punk tickles your nerve endings, then you really must grab a copy of this split CD from Portland's HELLSHOCK and Japan's EFFIGY. Originally released as a 10" and limited to 500 copies, the crusty folks at Crimes Against Humanity now make it available in CD format for the masses to choke down.

Both bands spread their ugliness with glee, but HELLSHOCK is the favorite on this one. The main riff to "All is Well" is bad to bone, the crushing mid-tempo tune a lock to wipe that smile off your face, while the pace picks up on "Generals Die in Bed", dragging asses right along with it. At over five minutes "Bloodsuckers" breaks the mold and alternates light picking and a steady beat with monster riff crunch and speeding crust punk bliss, none of which is the least bit antiseptic. The Portland dirties end with a cover of POISON IDEA's "Life Styles", it too a slamming good time.

EFFIGY keeps the momentum by bashing through three up-tempo tracks that are even filthier. "Choice of Darkness", "The Day the Devil Reigned", and "Dictator" never let up with alternating vocals that aren't so much barked, as vomited out with bile-soaked rage. In addition to the quicker pace, gnarly solos from the Greg Ginn school, as well as a rawer sound mix are some of the main differences from the HELLSHOCK material.

Quite simply, this splendid collaboration from bands at opposite ends of the globe is crust punk at its finest. What more is there to say? Besides fuck your scene, that is.

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