I Wanna Die

Offering up an abrasive quintet of hardcore punk that flies by in five minutes, the 2015 self-titled demo from Oakland, California four-piece I WANNA DIE conveys the type of reckless desperation suggested by their name – the hopelessness present in the material is probably the demo’s strongest and most noticeable aspect. An opening trio of 45-50 second punk thrashers gives way to the comparably more substantial (and bizarrely titled) fourth track that throws some doom metal sludginess into the mix before another straight ahead assault on the album’s last track.

With raspy, frequently-growled vocals vomited up by a singer who seems to be in genuine peril, the album is anchored by rapid-fire drumming and grinding bass; the fine instrumental performances make it easy to tell these players cut their teeth in Oakland’s punk and metal scene. Even if the group isn’t doing anything most listeners wouldn’t have heard before, it’s hard to argue with a furious album that constantly surges forward and is finished before one can get a word in edgewise. Though perhaps unexceptional, I'd say the I WANNA DIE demo is worth checking out.

6.5 / 10 — Andy