Tongue Scum x Nephalem Split 2024 review. FFO: Ear explosions, audio violence.

November 29, 2024

Tongue Scum x Nephalem Split 2024 review. FFO: Ear explosions, audio violence.

Face the facts: Melbourne is one of the best places to produce extreme music. The list of bands and releases is endless so I won't bore you, but if you cast aside all the fake hardcore and robotic death metal wannabees, you know it's factual as fuck. I didn't know if to shit my pants or pleasure myself furiously to the sheer audio audacity contained in this release.

Not only are the band members in both bands pretty much the nicest musical humans in Melbourne but their old bands were sick and these current violent versions are even better than those. These are two of the best bands around who both utilise wild pace, crafty vocals and clever songwriting to deliver jackhammers to your face. This is the split release of your dreams.

Tongue Scum kicks off this beast in their mayhemic power violence-fueled grind ensemble. As always Frank strips paint and plaster off any walls with his vitriolic and acidic vocals, backed by absurdly heavy riffs and bomblike drums. U've Expired is a nuclear war-like opener that takes zero prisoners like every other cut on this split. Rest assured this split is more like a weird underground hardcore split the strange guy behind the record counter recommends with promises that you'll need a bath afterwards. Black Spots in the Road really goes for the throat again with a chainsaw and the greatness contained in this 2:13 banger is off the chain; it's all brutal as hell but the songwriting is so refined-they know their craft well. Tons of Brutal Truthesque vibes on this track. Existential Whore follows that thread in this utter massacre of the senses type of classic. Again it's all focused and purposeful audio violence in a real Pig Destroyer meets Dystopia deathmatch with the next two tracks also. Blowing Off Stream and Never Stars Align are the best back-to-back grind/powerviolence songs I have heard in ages. Crazy, psychotic brilliance, as expected.

Then the spectacular Hardcore Satanic Boogie machine arrives to finish off the ten million stab wounds of the previous assailant with their belligerent, but pleasantly groovy hardcore spinkick to the face. 1-3 SLABS starts the fun with James' merciless vocal gymnastics counterbalancing the bassists piercing vocals and frankly savage guitar fuckery and drummy chaos.

This song is the audio equivalent of multiple prescription drugs mixed with cheap booze and lack of sleep, so I am all for that; the song I talking. The feral rage on this is brilliant, and the tracks were a live session recorded at the magic Dangertone studios, so it's one of their best recordings as it stinks of their live dominance. Bogan Fortress is meaty, chunky and suffocatingly great. The connection between the players is so strong on this as it displays how in sync this band is; this sounds so tight and like a pressure valve is about to blow. Their sound can never be pinned down, but I loved the Cancer Bats meets Infest feel on these tracks. Summerkill brings it all home with the savage crossover hardcore and almost D-Beat black metal influence across, easily the highlight of the release. The cd comes with a bonus track their killer cover of Electric Six's Gay Bar. Basically buy the fucking cd or digital and catch the launch tomorrow night or they will visit you in the night with all the freakish tales of what makes them produce this thrilling beast of a release.