INTHESHIT/Priapus – split 7” – Give Praise Records

Depending on what level of grade school you completed, it’s likely to take you longer to read this review than it will to actually listen to the record.  I normally wouldn’t review such a short split (like 7 minutes total), but I feel compelled by both bands; Boston’s INTHESHIT, and NC’s Priapus.  Let’s start with Boston grinders INTHESHIT.

“…dem King of the Grindcore Jungle vocals tho!”.  Yes, Mike Shea put down some of the most lobotomizing vocals ever on their 2011 EP King of the Grindcore Jungle before leaving the band, but in my opinion what set those vocals off were the powerviolence barks that accented them.  Fortunately, those barks return on INTHESHIT’s side of this record.  Not only do they return, but they have the same effect of adding contrast to Ian Dower’s vocals, which sound less frightening, but meaner than Shea’s.   Want to actually point your finger and bark along with grindcore?  You can do that here.  But for Christ's sake, enough about grindcore vocals.  For me, the INTHESHIT sound starts and ends with their drums.  Rapid, pummeling blasts lay the foundation with violent, legible, barks making up the front end.  Relentless speed, contrasted by some of that Boston sludge shown on the Born To Kill EP is what you get on this from INTHESHIT.  Solid, violent, drum worship grindcore. Nice to see something pressed to wax from these killers.

On the other side, I have three words for Priapus; On The Rise.  All you nerds need to scoop up their catalog because they’re making my “Most Likely To Release A Full Length cd on Willowtip” list.  Seriously though, Priapus' grindcore is so well balanced it’s scary:

Vocal variety, check. 

Technically sound, check.   

Speed/Groove ratio, check.   

Memorable moments, check.   

Makes you want to wrap your fists in hemp rope, coat them in resin, roll them in broken glass Kickboxer style, dip them in a vat of Magic Johnson’s blood and swing your way through the pit, check. 

  

This is pro grindcore that screams full length, but the 2 songs here will have to suffice.   Get familiar with these guys; I’d expect a world tour at some point, but I hoping for a stop in KCMO along the way.

All in all, this is a short but sweet spilt from Give Praise Records with 2 bands that contrast each other very well.  It’s definitely worth the pickup.