Not only is Finland home to some of the best death metal bands on earth, but also savage Grind Kings, Afgrund. In their short existence, they have unleashed some of the most brutal grindcore, this side of their fellow countrymen, Rotten Sound, as well as the stripped down brutality of Pig Destroyer. So this mini album just came out and was recorded, seems like before their last album, The Age of Dumb (love the fuckin name), from 2010-2012 and Canadian label PRC Music has just issued it, rather than Willowtip, their former record label.

One of Afgrund’s strongest points is being able to write memorable grind. This shit is not overproduced and is really organic and comes across even more ferocious and sounding live. Once the title track comes on and there is a brief spoken word moment, the EP has officially begun and is here to fuck you up beyond recognition. Whether it’s “Pact of Perfection” or “Common Goals”, this album destroys from beginning to end. The way they can mix up slower moments, with the barrage of blasts, really makes Afgrund one of the best grind bands out there, no question about that. That guitar tone is like a razor blade slicing away chunks of skin, inch by inch. Violent grind, but so memorable and so tasty to listen to. “Pharmageddon” is also a really special song, clocking in at over 3 minutes, makes it seem like their version of “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” and boy they fit a lot into this song. Blasting, thrash and some slow doom parts and this is essentially one of the best songs the band has ever done.

The last 3 tracks are covers of Repulsion, Nasum and Discharge. The special mention has to go to the Nasum cover, “Shadows”, which was originally on Nasum’s incredible Human 2.0. One of the best tracks they could have chosen to cover and boy do they do Nasum proud. Ferociously heavy and Mieszko Talarczyk (RIP), would be thrilled, if he was alive to see one of his songs so beautifully and respectfully covered.

The packaging has the lyrics and they are as socially biting as anything they have done in the past raging on dealing with douchebags to politics, in general. This is a must have for your grind collection. Brilliantly ferocious!!!.

[Visit the band's website]

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