INTHESHIT/Priapus - Split Review

I had heard of this splits inception quite a while ago, and I was worried that It would never see the light of day. Mostly due to Give Praise Record's (the label responsible for this release) recent interesting and almost complete 180 from releasing grind/fastcore, to putting out mostly weird thrash and oversea's punk rawk this last year. I was beginning to think that one of my favorite labels would never be the same again, and even more unfortunately, that the records that I had heard were coming out would never see the light of day. Thankfully, you can't keep this kind of grind down, and Give Praise is back on track and the fabled INTHESHIT/Priapus split is finally released. Boston's INTHESHIT are a group that I honestly haven't heard much from since I got their "King Of The Grindcore Jungle" tape back in 2012 or something. Three songs this time around, and my first time hearing their new singer. Who replaced the Jon Chang-esque vocals of "KotGJ" with more of a tuff, Ion Dissonance/Lack of Interest style. In a state who's biggest musical export right now seems to be unapologetic 80's/90's worshipping hardcore, it's not hard to see why this kind of delivery permeated the group. INTHESHIT have a massive sound on here, churning waves of guitars riffs and booming drums tumble and stampede over each other all over their side. It's a frenzied, flurried 3-song helping of punishing grind, but unfortunately they never seem to quite lock in together as a unit on here. Outside of a few slower breakdowns, the rest of this just sounds loose and not together. Not in a very charming way either. You know when you accidentally play a 45 RPM record at 33 RPM and the music sounds sort of bloated and stretched, it's kind of like that. It's not outright unenjoyable, but not something I can see myself returning too very often. Which makes the technical brutality of Priapus's 2-song contribution all the more explosive. Priapus, as you all should already know, are one of the most underrated grindcore bands going at this very moment. Some of the best stuff I label "tech-grind" around; crushingly heavy, tight, expertly recorded and mastered, and with Maruta, Pig Destroyer and Malignancy influences displayed proudly on their sleeves. OG actually debuted the opening track from their side "Adversus", on our site a while ago, and it's as awesome a track now as it was back then. Mach 3 gravity blasts and matching guitar noodling with a crushing, groovy breakdown riff towards the end, and some very nice vocal variations. The next track, "Failure Addict", and almost 3 minute riff machine track, full of colorful harmonics, and double bass that makes a jackhammer seem slow. Priapus are a great band for this kind of style, mainly due to their great song craft and chemistry as players. With most grind like this, it just seems like a bunch of dudes just trying to right stupidly complex music. Priapus on the other hand, while still being incredibly technical, still makes their songs stick out. Every vocal "bleah!", growl or scream seems to be thought out, and the guitars and drums compliment each other the same way Brian and Scott did in Pig Destroyer. Each instrument grooves together and helps make the other more impactful. Rest assured, I won't be surprised with Willowtip or Relapse snatches them up. Listen to the whole split here and be sure to buy the vinyl at Give Praise Records.

Rating: 7.5/10

~VII

Exclusive Premier of A New Priapus Track, "Adversus"

Operation Grindcore is very happy to debut this brand-spanking new track from the North Carolina lords of tech-grind, Priapus. This new track, entitled "Adversus", will be joining another new track for an upcoming split 7" with INTHESHIT, which should actually be out very soon on the mighty Give Praise Records. There will also be a new shirt design, featuring the art above. But this track, do I really need to tell you it's good? Anyone with a brainstem should know that anything Priapus grinds out is pure win. Riffs that crunch, squeal, skronk, screech, and chug come at you a mile a second, and the vocal and drum performances are equally impressive. Any local scene would be blessed to have a band like Priapus in their ranks. Stream the track below, and be sure to pick up the 7" when it comes out. 

~VII

INTHESHIT-King of the Grindcore Jungle

When I listen to a release, I usually have to listen to it for a few days to actually let it sink in with me, so it's not very often that I hear something and immediately love it. To hear King of the Grindcore Jungle for the first time and absolutely love it, was a great surprise. With an album title like King of the Grindcore Jungle, I expected INTHESHIT to be more of a grind band. Like, I don't know why, but I kind of expected them to be some overproduced grind band like Rotten Sound, Mumakill, etc. Man, was I wrong. Instead of some weak, super produced grind, I got some face-stomping, pissed off grindviolence.

One of the things that instantly stood out to me about INTHESHIT, was the vocals. These are some of the raspiest screams I have ever heard. I have seen a lot of reviewers abuse describing vocalists as sounding like they are "gargling napalm", but that is probably the best description I can give you of INTHESHIT's vocal sound. Another killer thing they add to the vocal mix is some awesome classic powerviolence shouts! The music is crazy and in your face too. Their music is like a punch to the face, but in a good way. On King of the Grindcore Jungle there are some interesting groove parts, that I really enjoy. Don't think of thirty-second groove parts though, think five seconds of pure catchiness. There are also some other really sweet elements on this release that stick out for me; like gang vocals, dissonant guitar riffs, and some killer double bass drumming.

The only gripe I have with King of the Grindcore Jungle is the length of it. I mean there are six songs on this album that clock in at around five minutes and INTHESHIT are so good that I just want more! With a sound that's so angry and in your face, I can't imagine INTHESHIT spelling their name in anything other than all caps! Grinders, you need to give INTHESHIT a listen right now!

Links: Listen, Facebook, Big Cartel

~Andrew Lipscomb