Much Worse

Following a couple of excellent 7”s, the confusingly-titled Macrocosm is a Wash is the first full-length LP from this Minneapolis foursome. Spun from the same Mecca-like breeding ground as Wild Child, Total Trash, Varix, and countless others, Much Worse play a non-stop, angry, and poignant style of hardcore punk. While there is an air of reckless abandon in their approach, they eschew most of the demented noise that’s making the rounds these days, in favor of a more cohesive sound; less-refined than Coke Bust but a bit more focused than, say, Brain Tumors. 

They mash the vocalist’s violent vibes with tough riffs, brief but squealing axe solos, and strident drumming. It’s a style that comes through particularly well on “Fathoming Hell.” It begins with breakdown riffing before the authoritative vocals come in, which eventually let up for some erratic Greg Ginn-like guitar soloing. It all ends with a pretty sweet mid-tempo mosh part. Similarly, the album-closer “Already Dead” builds a nice head of steam before ending in a fiery car crash of shatted pants and burnt flesh. 

At various points throughout the record there is a slight ’82 Demos feel; even some shades of Japanese hardcore, but overall Macrocosm is a Wash is a pretty distinctive release that holds a place among the best punk/HC LPs of 2013. Highly recommended for anyone that liked that Boston Strangler record from a few years ago; owns VHS tapes of Japanese pro-wrestling death matches; or regularly has nightmares about their teeth breaking.

9.0 / 10 — Nathan G. O'Brien