Heavy music is back on the upswing in South Florida. Torche, forging on where Floor left off, has been making noise on both a national and European stage with their bomb-string-fueled stoner pop. Shitstorm has been wreaking havoc playing blastbeat-laden grindcore in the style of gems from the glory days of Slap-A-Ham and 625 Records. And Consular has been delivering sludgy jams that quickly clear the uninitiated out of rooms much like Cavity did years earlier. So it should be no surprise that Miami would soon produce a band championing the crusty d-beat sound that has been an underground staple for over two decades.
Mehkago N.T., (formed by members of Torche, Shitstorm, DNME and Trust No One) delivers five tracks of blistering metal-tinged d-beat hardcore on their debut EP. While their songs are rooted in the crusty d-beat sound pioneered by Discharge, it is their ability to fuse this sound with their hardcore and metal influences that sets this EP apart. Tracks such as "Negative Outlook," "Siafu Attack," and "Holy Shit" have traditional-sounding hardcore breakdowns with "Negative Outlook" even featuring a breakdown that would fit in on any of the early Revelation youth crew classics. Conversely, "Programmed Society" has a layered and doom-sounding extended breakdown with subtle guitar leads. The production deftly balances a relatively polished sound that emphasizes the tightness of the musicianship without sacrificing the rawness that is essential to this genre.
P-Dub perfected his visceral growl while shredding his vocal chords for Shitstorm and his voice shines equally here. His delivery is more intelligible than his work with Shitstorm, which is fitting for this style of hardcore. In classic d-beat style, key parts of the verses are shouted repeatedly, and the inclusion and placement of group vocals adds to the intensity of the songs.
While not stylistically groundbreaking, these songs have an undeniable power and provide a fresh take on a genre that rarely evolves. As a result of the variations in the breakdowns, the tight transitions within songs, and the guttural vocals, this EP is regularly receiving spins in my stereo. Mehkago N.T. is a welcome addition to the currently thriving South Florida scene.
