| ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
If relentless pigfuck and post-hardcore with a demented sense of humour is your thing (I know it’s mine), then look no further than Connecticut’s very own Intercourse. Boasting numerous EP’s and splits, as well as three LP’s now under their belt, these ferocious upstarts have made a serious name for themselves in modern underground hardcore. Their appeal is a combo of face-melting guitar and bass, blistering drums, and a vocalist who sounds like Chat Pile’s Raygun Busch dialled completely off the scale. That, paired with a lyrical audacity that will probably make this impenetrable to newcomers, and you have yourself the most sickening soup for your self-esteem. I was thankfully introduced to this group off the back of their 2024 EP “Egyptian Democracy”. An extremely trim yet concussive first impression that was practically all I needed to hear. I knew that whatever was streaming down that fecal pipeline next was going to cover me with the most vile septic gunk I could hope for. Not only does this thing’s veins protrude out of its ugly head for basically its entire runtime, but the stench of rotting cadaver that haunts the inner walls of this album makes it an absolutely toxic listen from front to back.
Where humour is squeezed in, it zips by so abruptly amongst the chaos that you may not have time to laugh at it. Standout zingers like “whoever is writing my nightmares deserves a f**king Emmy” and “I know my rights, I watch People’s Court” are some of the most genuinely light-hearted pieces of comedy amidst the general barrage. Otherwise, frontman Tarek Ahmed is either blatantly threatening lives, or self-deprecatingly lamenting his own. Right from the jump, “The Ballad of Max Wright” is a musical meat grinder. Maddening riffs and blast beats soundtrack the most venomous lyrical diatribes on the project. “I hope you’re ready to get your voice box cut out by a grown man with no savings account” is the first line. Yes, the first line. It gets no lighter from there, if anything, it spirals further. It’s simultaneously enthralling and terrifying. The record becomes even more harrowing topically, as songs like “Cadaver Resume” border on horrorcore. A man fascinated with death as he awaits the sweet release from this capitalistic hellhole? Now that’s a morbidity I can respect.
Though it is a very brisk listen, that’s partly what makes it so easy to return to. It’s got that fun, replayable hardcore element to it that means it can never overstay its welcome. The thrills are practically endless, and any lulls come by way of a few cuts that feel redundant in either their compositions, or their approach in context with the rest of the tracklist. Those who may be faint of heart should proceed with caution, and those who are battle-hardened may still want to carry an extra shield or two. This record isn’t just “heavy” or “intense”, it’s eye-widening. It’s a fight-or-flight activator. It makes your neck hairs stand up in anticipation. If you have what it takes though, the onslaught is well worth it.
Dan Will Review 