ninehertz

Pariah are new, but their origins are well known. Featuring members of Geist, a band well loved in the UK scenes they inhabited, their return in this new setup prompted me to revisit the old band and their albums. As well as scorching my ears off like I fondly remembered, seeing the labels they came out on - Vetala, Astral Noize, Trepanation, Rip Roaring Shit Storm and more - is testament to how highly they were considered, working with the coolest and most in the know labels of the UK underground.

Pariah introduce themselves to us through a five track release via another leviathan label, who released Geist's final works, Cursed Monk Records. That this is blistering metal fused to hardcore is of no surprise, but still an enormous thrill to become acquainted with. Whilst the component parts are all extremely familiar in this realm of music, it is created so sharply it sounds vibrantly fresh, despite its grimy nature. I hear and feel similarities to the superb Berenice EP of last year, with its hint of the Entombed-in-hardcore halitosis vibes of Black Breath; although perhaps a bit leaner, wiry like the black metal punks that showed their heads on the Sunlight's Bane/Geist split 7" way back.

This is a tight, fat free, sub-quarter of an hour statement of aggro hardcore excellence. It is of course best played through as one, but my standout would be Endless Circles, which splurges out of the traps faster than before before slowing it significantly down (appetisingly for my doom brain) with a gorgeous, battering riff. Released on 12" through the label, apparently with a B-side of a format exclusive noise track, this EP is an invitation into Pariah's world of violence not to be missed.