Buried deep within the DNA of grindcore lies the darkest impulses of humanity. Without this fervent critique of our species, well, it’s just another relentless barrage of aggressive riffs and manic time signatures. The marriage of this musical extremity with themes of societal decay, environmental destruction, and human suffering has cemented grindcore as a permanent fixture in the world of socially-relevant extreme metal over the last four decades. The pioneering efforts of grindaddies such as Napalm Death, Carcass, Brutal Truth, Terrorizer, among many others, have allowed contemporary grindcore bands to take that initial blueprint and run with it. As a result, we now have bands incorporating elements from various subgenres like deathgrind, crust punk, sludge, and powerviolence, creating a dynamic yet chaotic sound.

Of these bands, Edmonton, Alberta’s Culled, is an easy standout. Not since Nasum’s ’98 full-length, Inhale/Exhale, have I been this excited about a band of the grind kind. If you are familiar with that album, then you’ll certainly understand how it essentially birthed a second-wave of grindcore with its musical complexity and accompanying emotional depth. There exists layers of thoughtfulness amidst the calamity, which results in not only an assault on the senses, but also assaults the anterior cingulate cortex and right amygdala (areas of the brain that we process societal/political ideologies). As it relates to contemporary grindcore, Inhale/Exhale absolutely paved the way for a new wave of grindcore, which includes Culled.

With the release of their 2018 debut album, Thin The Herd, Fail To Learn, Culled immediately displayed to the world their prowess, both technically and thematically, as it relates to the true spirit of grindcore. The production was both gritty and precise, which prevented the listener from becoming too comfortable (an experience which is central to the album’s ethos). With their latest EP, Psycles, the four-piece of Curtis Blair (drums), Chris Chapman (bass), Shane Hawco (vocals), and Ben Harbak (guitar) have followed a course of natural evolution that sees a marked increase in the intensity and complexity departments, while still retaining their core philosophy and thematic approach. Songs such as lead-off track ‘The Trauma Of History’ and the title track ‘Psycles’ showcase the band’s penchant for sludge-drenched grind that brings to mind the mighty Gaza and their 2012 album, No Absolutes In Human Suffering. Where Gaza focuses more on the sludge, Culled leans a bit more on the grind/hardcore side of the fence, much to their benefit.

The opening riff of ‘Coercion’ brings the festivities into the realm of death metal with its Misery Index-like brutality and swagger. This song could, and should, be the benchmark for how to properly incorporate groove into grind. Even though the song eventually transitions into a powerviolence-like assault, the groove can still be heard/felt throughout. ‘Halo Of Flies’ is arguably the EP’s heaviest track, thanks to the face-smashing bottom-end emanating from Curtis and Chris. This thing is just absolutely pummeling in a High On Fire kinda way. The album ends with a mindfuck of a track in ‘Excision (Lost Cause)’ which exudes the grinding technicality of a band like Maruta. There exists a distinct sense of dissonance which shows off Culled’s skill and intention without ever veering the listener into excess and filler. It is straight-to-the-point in its smartly-executed blend of noodle and brootal.

Psycles is an album not for the faint of heart. It poises itself as a weapon against societal excess and decomposition by utlizing precision, fury, and nihilism, both musically and lyrically. It is an eye-opening display on the oppressive nature of authoritarianism and how we are blinded by the cycles that we are doomed to repeat. With that said, the only repeating I am interested in comes with another click of the ‘Play’ button. Psycles is available now. Head here to purchase.