I fucking love Dripback, ever since they erupted like a giant zit in the face of the metal fans in 2011 with the infectious as ebola (but half as pleasant) “Inhaling The Ashes” EP, this bunch of North London yobs have nailed a sound that while full of angst and aggression is, simultaneously, glistening like your mums face behind the bins outside the Cardiff branch of Tiger Tiger, with honesty. These lads have seen it, done it and snorted the t-shirt and the sense of “tribe” and their live shows supporting such heavy weights as Lock Up, The Rotted, Nasum or Pig Destroyer were always unforgettable…no matter how hard you tried.
Following up that stellar EP with the indie released “Failed Futures” album in 2014, the band showed off a mature and……fuck it….I’m gonna say it…. “progressive” side that exhibited an unexpected depth of song writing talent that you never saw coming.
These days this five piece don’t all live in London….hell, two of them don’t even live in the UK but anyone who thought or hoped Dripback would just fade into the ether of obscurity are gonna be crying sweet salty tears when they catch an earful of this five track smack in the chops!
To quote vocalist Wez4 – “We’ve been trying to squeeze this musical turd out a year now, we’ve pushed so hard we’ve got piles, but the shit is finally hitting the fan”
And he’s not wrong! No trends, bandwagons or posey wankery, the lads are back and it’s like they were never gone. Hardcore, death metal, grind… all the elements that brought Dripback to the attention of yours truly are here with a magnificent production once again from knob-twiddler and all round lovely bloke Russ Russell.
Kicking off with “Altered States Of Consciousness” the band plant their flag in the ground with a slice of nitrous fuelled yet depressive death / grind that is then followed by the title track and my fave song in the album – a multi textured and barbaric blast that really reminds me of The Rotted’s early days – pure class. “Forked Tongue” is a more straightforward, foot down, headfirst dive into the metal underworld and totally kicks arse. “Lack Of Substance” contains anything but with some great savage riffing from Lee & Gino. “Mouths Sewn Shut” finishes the EP off in a suitably oppressive yet satisfying way.
This is Dripback at their very best, socially conscious, raucous hooligan death-grind full of spite and bile and itching for a ruck.
Killer EP
(8.5/10 Mark Eve)
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