EP Review: Noosed – Misery (Road to Masochist)

Noosed, the Irish crust punk, sludge and hardcore band, are back with a brand-new EP called ‘Misery’. Out on May 15th on 10” black vinyl by Road To Masochist. CDs will be available via Throne of Lies Records, with a cassette version being released by Fiadh Productions.

I f**king loved Noosed. There’s just something so appealing about the noise they make, and a lot of it comes from how unflinchingly honest they are. When they have something to say, often about the state of the world, they say it and it’s impossible to not pay attention to them. Not when they’re assaulting the senses with an EP as potent as this.

It begins with This Country and if you’re not paying attention already, the pointed statement of “I hate this fucking country” will snap you out of any fugue state you’re in. The leads straight into Drag Them Out, where we get to revel in the crusty punk side of Noosed’s intense sound, before Fuck The Church unashamedly hammers its point home via a combo of relentless riffing and machine-gun like drumming.

The first couple of tracks are done in around four and a half minutes, creating something akin to shellshock in the mind. It’s hard to keep up, but even though the EP is so harsh, it is very digestible, so multiple listens are guaranteed and that is where things really take hold.

Fallout sits in the middle of the EP as one of the longest (nearly three minutes) and shows off some of Noosed’s sludgy side. Be warned, its filth, and once again, the drumming is simply on another level.

It’s back to being more ‘in your face’ with the following guttural ferocity of Floating Coffins and the punishing punk and hardcore infused title track. Both are notable, but to be honest, everything is overshadowed by what comes next.

It’s ‘No Return’ and it is a difficult listen. Not only is it over four minutes long, but it is instrumentally crushing. However, it’s this being combined with a conversation between two people regarding drug addiction and abuse that makes it so challenging. Honestly, I was lost for words the first time I heard this, and each subsequent listen hasn’t dented its impact. It is a devasting finish to a furiously destructive EP that, once again, shows just how effective a band Noosed are.

Noosed – Misery Track Listing:

1. This Country
2. Drag Them Out
3. Fuck The Church
4. Fallout
5. Floating Coffins
6. Misery
7. No Return

Links

Bandcamp | Facebook | Road to Masochist | Throne of Lies Records | Fiadh Productions