EP Review: Death Goals – Survival Is An Act Of Defiance (Self Released)

‘Survival Is an Act of Defiance’ is the new EP from UK Queercore duo Death Goals; composed of Harry Bailey (guitar/vocals) and George Milner (drums/vocals). ‘Survival Is an Act of Defiance’ is Death Goals’ most politically charged and aggressive release to date; joined by a host of queer guest vocalists (members of HIRS Collective, Burner, Cainhurst and Victim Unit) the band wrote this EP across 2024 as a real-time response to the ever-growing hatred and persecution of the queer community.

The year was 2023, and at ArcTanGent, at around 9:30pm on the Friday of the festival, I made my way to the PX3 stage to check out a band that many people had said I should check out. A Queercore two-piece that were excitingly experimental and abrasively intense, delivering a modern style of hardcore that can best be summed up as additive noisy chaos. They may not have been the best band I saw that year, but they left one hell of an impact on me, and here we are now.

It gives me no end of pleasure to talk about this EP, gush about its dynamic brilliance, spew compliments about the experimentation, and shout from the highest of highs about the guests and how Death Goals work with each. From the (always) wonderful Harry Nott of Burner, who adds so much fire and fury, to the expressive Jenna Pup of HIRS Collective, to the potent spoken word of Ewan Benwall on Even An Empire Can Burn…, and how Victim Unit’s Lotta Ridgely helps turn the title track into one of the best things Death Goals have ever released.

It’s such a creative listen, and each track offers up something different, but equally important. Death Goals are a band you can rely on for great music and once again, they deliver. From the moment Kill with Kindness explodes with the kind of energy that reminds me of early At the Drive-In (arguably more chaotic here), I was sold. Big up the breakdown. Then there is Tchotchke, less than two minutes of noisy intensity that has incredible lyrics, and Even A Worm Can Turn, the only track without a guest and one that can proudly be called anthem – especially because of the shouted gang vocal moments. Such powerful music.

I love it, and so will you, because it’s f**king Death Goals and they really are one of the best bands in the UK metal scene.

Death Goals – Survival Is an Act of Defiance Track Listing:

1. Kill With Kindness (Ft. Harry Nott of Burner)
2. Tchotchke (Ft. Jenna Pup of HIRS Collective)
3. Even An Empire Can Burn… (Ft. Ewan Benwell of Cainhurst)
4. Even A Worm Can Turn
5. Survival is An Act of Defiance (Ft. Lotta Ridgely of Victim Unit)

Links

Bandcamp | Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok