It’s Monday, and for most of us today sucks. The beginning of the week, getting back into the groove, surviving the day… Extra coffee. It’s the kind of day you just wanna blast through.
And I say let’s do just that. Because there are few things as consistently sinister as a Monday.
So let’s grind this fucker out. It’s a grindcore Monday.
We’re starting out with an EP by Mother Brain. This is a band that I’ve been hoping would produce some new material but haven’t yet. But that’s okay because the title Straight to Business perfectly encapsulates this day for a lot of us. And it helps that the EP is badass.
Oh sure “Introduction” is the longest portion of the album but I’d argue that my first three-hours are the longest at my day job. And for grind-heads like me, a two-minute introduction is a three-hour waiting period. And I kid, at least a bit, but it’s worth sitting through because once this introduction passes, it’s all rage from here on out.
Mother Brain is a savage grindcore band. And I don’t say that lightly. For those that like their bullshit trimmed and tidy, you needn’t look much further lest you venture into the hardcore/punk genre. The second track “Right Hand Man” wastes no time in slapping you across the face and getting the grind action on. It’s like morning coffee; it’s that thing that gets you going in the morning with no frills and no mercy. Don’t believe me? Oh what’s that I hear? Immediate blasting on this second track? Yeah, there’s no fucking around here.
To be fair, Mother Brain can take you on a lot of ups and downs. As much as the band can blast, and they can friggin’ blast, they still leave way for a more straightforward approach. “Down the Drain” for example, takes us through some savage riffs but still breaks things down. Does it detract from the energy? No, not a chance. Even when Mother Brain is at their slowest, they’re still tearing at the throat.
It’s all about the riff here. Mother Brain is one of those grindcore bands that masterfully craft punk-infused guitar riffs with some killer metal drumming. It’s the kind of thing that fans of Misery Index, Fulgora or Asphalt Graves will love. There’s enough here for fans leaning towards metal or hardcore to love.
The only shame about this band is that they’ve never cut a full-length LP. That and they don’t release music on a particularly regular basis. Their last EP, Rise and Grind (something that I plan to cover on a later date, spoiler alert), was released in 2014. I, for one, hope they keep up the grind. After all, It’s already hard enough to get up at the ass crack of dawn. Mother Brain should at least help you grind through the day.
Sithis knows grindcore bands don’t make money. Throw a few bucks their way.
You can find me barely awake here.
