Maruta is a band that’s near and dear to my heart. Not only did they release three albums worth of blistering grindcore that are among my favorites of the genre, but they were also early supporters of my written endeavors, graciously granting me interviews in 2008 and 2011. Hell, they were the opening band at the show I met my wife at! Needless to say, I’m pretty stoked to report that Maruta vocalist Mitchell Luna is fronting a new band called Shock Withdrawal and they’ve come blasting out of the gate with a positively ripping self-titled debut ep via grind mega-label Selfmadegod Records.
Clocking in at a brisk thirteen minutes, Shock Withdrawal is a quick ‘n’ dirty burst of death grind ultra-violence from this three-headed beast that also includes drummer Jono Garret (Turbid North, ex-The Destro) and guitarist/bassist Nick Emde (Nitesoil, White Widows Pact, ex-The Destro). Songs such as “Rejection Cycle” and “Despair Ratio” are compact killing machines designed get in, murder motherfucking everyone and get out in as little time as possible. Indeed, Shock Withdrawal’s songwriting economy is goddamn glorious to behold, provided your idea of glorious includes having your ear canals flayed by some of the gnarliest, meanest grindcore you’re gonna hear in 2022.
But just because the ep is short, brutal and bludgeoning by its very nature doesn’t mean it lacks nuance. Sure, Emde and Garret throw down with pummeling riff-slaughter while Luna spews his corrosive vocals like a man possessed who’s spent all day drinking battery acid, but the songwriting is also highly dynamic and Shock Withdrawal aren’t afraid to let off the gas when needed, even going full-on sludge metal for closing track “Guided By Paranoia,” just to make extra-sure that your skull has been crushed into a fine powder by the time all is said and done.
Recorded by Travis Bacon (Mutilation Rites, Ruin Lust) and Jamie King (Glass Casket, Through the Eyes of the Dead) with mastering by Arthur Rizk (Cirith Ungol, Power Trip), it should come as no surprise that Shock Withdrawal sounds heavy as all hell. This thing is thick as a brick, but there is still plenty of separation between each instrument and the vocals, allowing one to appreciate the full scope of the trio’s relentless assault. The production is perfectly suited to what Shock Withdrawal are trying to accomplish here, bridging the gap between old school grinding filth and modern death metal fury.
All of this is to say that Shock Withdrawal’s debut is a nasty little slab o’ grindcore that’s perfect for genre enthusiasts looking for a quick kick in the teeth. Fans of the likes of Napalm Death, Nasum and of course Maruta will feel right at home within the ep’s violent confines, while everyone else will have no choice but to either step out of the way or get stepped on repeatedly until there’s nothing left but a puddle of blood and guts.
THKD 