The quintet garnering enough support over the years to play alongside the likes of Birds In Row, Cult Leader and Crowbar and even land a standalone track on the worldwide gaming spotlight that was Cyberpunk 2077. Slowly rising up the ranks and gaining recognition. This record their opening gambit with label eOne Heavy is here to make a racket and open that net of support even wider.
Opening track ‘The Hiss’ sluggishly builds in volume as you walk deeper into the depths of Hell, the darkness consuming you as the sadistic choir and hissing seeps into your ears. You are truly in Hull, sorry, Hell and you will pay attention.
‘Fail’ smashes you square over the head with just over a minute’s worth of raw aggression. This swiftly asserts the development of the band since their last outing. Jim Hodge’s vocal delivery a huge step forward alongside licks of intriguing guitar and drums that prick the ear amongst the wash of brutality.
They do not let up as you are thrown into ‘Repulse’ a intensely heavy song but somehow a satisfyingly head bobbing rhythm. It’s clear they pull from a vast array of influences and do not fit within a paint by numbers heavy formula. Touches of Max Cavalera vocals and hardcore riffs that echo early Cave In, before you are torn apart slowly with a disgusting breakdown. The layering of vocals which happens more than once on this record come to great effect, the gurgling windpipes crawling over each other fighting for supremacy.
Recent single ‘Midnight Creeper’, a song about a former friend outed as an abuser, is justly irate as the entirety of this record is. Mad at the world and the multiple injustices people suffer every day. This context is important not only when listening to this record but to the message Mastiff are here to drill into everyone’s heads. As ‘Beige Sabbath’ repeats, ‘Same old shit, nothing’s changed’, a reminder that without action the world will slip into the abyss.
On a more positive note, the Zeal & Ardor-esque discordant rhythms, layered screams and growls of ‘Endless’ are a true highlight. This is gore and guttural madness at its best. Hopefully this is replicated live and this will be a deafener on tour.
Closer ‘Lung Rust’ is a close second highlight. You are led back into the white noise, piece by piece. The song slowing for what seems like an eternity, moving further away and dissipating. The torture is over, but you are left gasping for more.
It is incredible the band tracked this in just five days with Joe Clayton (Pijn, Wren, Leeched) as there is a fine level of detail and elements galore that you won’t pick up on the first or even tenth listen. This is a record to go back to again and again and be consumed by. Fingers crossed they reproduce this on tour with Calligram this year and amass a swathe of followers along the way.