Review / 200 Words Or Less
Beartrap
Fueled by Self-Hate

Double or Nothing (2009) — Jon E.

Beartrap – Fueled by Self-Hate cover artwork
Beartrap – Fueled by Self-Hate — Double or Nothing, 2009

This release blazes through the listener at a ridiculously fast clip. Eight tracks of fast punk styled thrash madness. The label compares them to Trash Talk and Black Flag; I can't really disagree. I could see some craziness going down to this. They leave the experimentation to the last song which truly sets it apart almost seemingly written for a different release as it is much longer than the other songs and slows to crawl with creepy spoken word parts before fading out. This is a great release. It reminds me of when I first heard the First 4 Year compilation. Check it out and thrash hard.

8.8 / 10 — Jon E. • December 10, 2009

Beartrap – Fueled by Self-Hate cover artwork
Beartrap – Fueled by Self-Hate — Double or Nothing, 2009

Related features

Beartrap

One Question Interviews • June 19, 2014

Related news

1QI: Catharsis PR, Beartrap, Lagwagon, Japanther

Posted in Bands on June 23, 2014

Double Or Nothing Signs Beartrap

Posted in Labels on January 7, 2009

Recently-posted album reviews

The Phase Problem

The Power Of Positive Thinking
Brassneck Records (2024)

I spent a good part of the late ‘90s annoyed at the abundance of Ramonescore. I’ll stand by my word: many of the bands of that era were carbon copies that didn’t bring anything new to the format. But time has passed and what was overdone is now a refreshing change of pace. For whatever reason, when I hear a … Read more

Totally Slow

The Darkness Intercepts
Refresh Records (2024)

I find Totally Slow a hard band to categorize. Their brand of melodic, hard punk is familiar and comforting -- rooted in ‘80s hardcore, ‘90s skatepunk, and post-something guitar-driven rock. The press release namedrops Dag Nasty and Hot Snakes, among others, which I think are good starting points. But while it’s familiar, it’s absolutely not a carbon copy. Like their forebearers, the songs … Read more

Steamachine

City of Death
Records Workshop (2023)

City Of Death is the third album from Polish noise makers Steamachine. Having dabbled in a few metal styles over their career, City Of Death has a heavy carnival influence to it which I have to say I really like. It's interesting just how much more sinister things sound when you pump eerie, jingly circus sounds amongst very dark, heavy, … Read more