STORMCROW / MASS GRAVE

Never a label to soften its touch or go for the commercial gold, Selfmadegod Records has released a dirty trio of aces: DEAD INFECTION's "Corpses of the Universe", BLOOD I BLEED's "Gods out of Monsters", and the subject of this review, the STORMCROW/MASS GRAVE split. All crust-covered and bruising, the pair joins forces to demonstrate how one goes about obliterating fashion scenesters and trend whores. If you feel as though a shower is in order after time spent in the company of the beast, then this one is probably not for you.

The Bay Area's STORMCROW showcases their lovingly dubbed "stenchcore" with three cuts clocking in at a combined length of 18 minutes. The group rides steady doom/death(sort of) riffs for all their worth on "Poisoned Minds" and the nine-and-a-half-minute "The Science of Tyranny", the tension builds finally exploding into thrashy thunder romps that pit crust punk sensibility against mucky versions of early BOLT THROWER and even a touch of early HIGH ON FIRE (though probably not intentionally). Sandwiched between is a crust crusher called "Lost Hopes" that clocks in at less than three minutes. The filth is blissful.

Not bothering with the "build" part, the 14 tracks from Vancouver's MASS GRAVE dot eyes in rapid succession, the old school grind aligning itself lustily with crust punk bursts, and doing so without monotony. "Corruption of Innocence" actually swings and "Unconsciously Mundane" holds tighter to a groove than most of the tracks, mainly to ready one for the 30-second grind blaster that comes next, "Get over Yourself". Closing the proceedings with a bludgeoning cover of NIRVANA's "Tourettes" is a pleasant surprise, finally giving the listener time to enjoy what will certainly be a lifelong struggle with brain damage. It was worth it though, wasn't it?