Hellshock

Hellshock

XXV

Black Water

***Hellshock are nothing short of a stenchcore institution. For 25 years, this Portland band has been shaping apocalyptic crust with unrelenting conviction, and their new record XXV stands as both a celebration of their legacy and a bold step forward.Across six new tracks, Hellshock return to the raw, filthy roots of classic stenchcore while simultaneously pushing their sound into darker, heavier, and even more triumphant territory. Crushing Bolt Thrower-style riffing collides with grim, somber melodies and the occasional synth flourish, creating an oppressive, almost funereal atmosphere. The result is six anthems of rage and despair, delivered with massive production, visceral vocals, and a rhythm section that hits like a collapsing world.With the addition of Todd Burdette (Tragedy) on second guitar, XXV connects deeply to Portland’s DIY hardcore lineage while evoking the spirit of legends like Hellbastard, Axegrinder, and Deviated Instinct. Still, this is no mere throwback – Hellshock reinvent the wheel with a sound that can only be described as progressive darkened stenchcore.

Hellshock

s/t

Black Water

***22 years, several EPs and splits, three full lengths and countless tours around the globe, HELLSHOCK are still standing relevant and still playing some of the heaviest riffs in the world wide punk scene. Where most bands of the crust genre seem to lose the fire and filth or simply break up before their prime, this band seems to get more powerful with each release and this long awaited LP is no exception! This recording features the addition of ROBBIE CHRONIC from RIPPER on guitar who adds some real sick fucking solos on top of the established rolling crust riffage that the original core group had perfected years ago. Neck aching tempos, sheer brutality, growled anguished vocals, and epic song writing without straying from pure unadulterated crust. For the seasoned Hellshock fan, you know you will already love this album and it will only exceed expectations. For the newcomer, if they were to ask 'what is this crust/stenchcore thing about?,' I would point them to Amebix, Deviated Instinct, Axegrinder and Hellshock. The name deserves to be right beside the creators and masters. In another 20+ years this record will be regarded as one of the best crust records of the 2020s, just as we look back at Only the Dead Know the End Of War as a defining record of the early 2000s.