Review Summary: Another short and sweet powerviolence record, but not the greatest on the "DIY market."
Boston fastcore dudes Beartrap bang out a furious EP that will, without a doubt, force it's way into any mosh pit, whether located in some dimly lit basement show or an all out venue. After listening to Jenny Piccolo's "Information Battle to Denounce the Genocide" LP, I was blown away at their ability to plow through several short tracks at once, without ceasing or breaking the energy. I have found it's match. "Sleep Eradication" takes on a similar vibe, angrily forcing destructive energy through the speakers without giving a moment for the listener to gather what just happened. Only short segments of feedback separate the eight tracks present here, and one may be astounded and/or fascinated by the raw, live sound of this EP.
Clocking in at less than five minutes in length, the EP opens with "Identity Crisis", which leads us to a nice 90's-esque hardcore rhythm, which continuously builds until it eventually explodes into the 12-second climax of furious vocals. This song abruptly ends, leading into the title track.
At this point, many powerviolence fans may be wondering "what is the point of this?" I must admit I was a bit amused at the end of the EP, wondering what exactly the primary focus of this release really was. The answer is quite simple: This EP would be better in live performance. I am unaware of any physical releases of this little number. It is possible that this is merely an "internet album" meant to showcase the band's sound. Overall, it does a wonderful job. I can only imagine a live performance from a band of this sort. Complete fury, energy and anger. While it resembles the sound of many underground hardcore/powerviolence/whatever bands, an in-your-face performance would no doubt be enjoyable.
Beartrap may give us a good taste of the "old school" violence sound, but this is not a release worthy of playing on a turntable consistently. There was not a diverse amount of work put into the songs, though the mere insanity of it all is great. We will hear much repetition of rhythms throughout the entirety. Therefore, while it does not stand boldly as a release in the DIY world, it does represent a band with potential.
