A while ago I was talking with someone about 'modern' powerviolence, and I remember saying that the best bands playing the style today were without a doubt
Iron Lung,
Mind Eraser,
Hatred Surge and
Scapegoat. A few days later, I received this record in the mail. I had been anticipating it for a long time, and I have to say all my expectations were met. This is a double 7", with all of the aforementioned bands taking a side each. Wet yet? Of the 4, Iron Lung are the only ones that stray somewhat from their usual style - their two tracks are quite lengthy (in comparison to previous material/the other bands on this release), and are actually linked together compositionally (probably thematically too, knowing the depth of Iron Lung's concepts). Their side is very dense and noisy, making it hard to really get a grasp on what is going on. The typically unpredictable tempo changes and the like are here, but Iron Lung have taken a step out into the dark and I think it has paid off. Some will not like, and admittedly I probably listen to it less than the other contributions here, but I still think it's great.
Mind Eraser share a 7" with Iron Lung, and before I tell you how good I thought their side was, it has to be pointed out that Mind Eraser do not have any bad material. Sure, you could argue about the varying quality between releases, but on the whole the band hasn't gone wrong. Their 4 songs on the record are some of their best yet - furious, relentless and proper pissed off. I think Mind Eraser definitely sets a benchmark with what they're doing, and this is further proof of their excellence. Moving onto the second 7", the A side starts off with Hatred Surge. When I first heard Rahi of Insect Warfare would be doing vocals for Hatred Surge, I was extremely excited. Then we had their split with Mammoth Grinder, and while I enjoyed the Surge songs on there, they were definitely not as appealing as earlier material. Fortunately, their contribution here is just great. They sound a lot heavier, and the song dynamics just grab your attention immediately. It would be hard for me to pick one side as my favourite, but it would definitely be between the Mind Eraser and Hatred Surge tracks.
Scapegoat are the newest band on this compilation, but they've definitely made headway with their short but very excellent discography. Their recently released LP is one of the best hardcore records of the year. Their songs here are the oldest of the 4 bands, dating back to 2008. As I said in my review of the LP, there aren't any bands that channel Crossed Out like these guys. These 7 tracks are all extremely short, but make up for it with a menacing edge. I personally prefer their later stuff though. Such an important release such as this would need to look good, and Brutal Supremacy certainly does - the sleeve opens up into 6 panels, with the band's info and the front and back cover on one side and a small poster on the back. Artwork is excellent.
Brutal Supremacy is undoubtedly one of the best releases this year, and if you consider yourself a fan of the genre or any of these bands, you've probably already got it. If not, it's still available from Painkiller.
