Review
I Wanna Die
I Wanna Die

Independent (2015) Andy Armageddon

I Wanna Die – I Wanna Die cover artwork
I Wanna Die – I Wanna Die — Independent, 2015

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.

See also

http://iwannadie.bandcamp.com/releases

I Wanna Die – I Wanna Die cover artwork
I Wanna Die – I Wanna Die — Independent, 2015

Recently-posted album reviews

Painkiller

The Great God Pan
Tzadik (2025)

Painkiller, the trio of John Zorn, Bill Laswell, and Mick Harris shows no signs of slowing down. The Great God Pan is their third full-length, since their reunion in 2024, and in many ways it is an unexpected offering. In keeping with their interests in the metaphysical realm, Painkiller find inspiration from the famed Arthur Machen horror novella. Here, the … Read more

Painkiller

The Equinox
Tzadik (2025)

Painkiller sees three absolute masters of extreme music join forces. John Zorn of Naked City and a billion other projects, Mick Harris who transcended from Napalm Death drummer to illbient guru with Scorn, and producer extraordinaire Bill Laswell. Their first two records, Guts of a Virgin and Buried Secrets are strange meditations traversing between free-jazz, grindcore and dub. Still hungry … Read more

Dauber

Falling Down
Dromedary Records, Recess (2025)

The lazy approach would be to call Dauber "ex-Screaming Females," but that barely scratches the surface. If I had to pick one band to namedrop a comparison to, it would be labelmates Night Court. They play a familiar style but with a lot of quirks that set it apart from the genre standard-bearers. It's driving and energetic -- more importantly, … Read more