In this suffocating heat, blasting high-adrenaline music sometimes just makes me sweat even more while sitting still. But you can’t go slow all the time — at some point, you feel the urge to unleash the energy inside. And that’s exactly when Phobia comes roaring out of the speakers in a goddamn face-melting frenzy. Hailing from California, Phobia has always stayed loyal to its anarcho/crust punk roots without diving deep into gore-obsessed grind tropes, keeping themselves in a unique space. With this album, they continue their grinding madness — now joined by two new guitarists, one of whom is a woman.
This is hands down one of Phobia’s best recordings in terms of sound quality. The guitar-and-drum duo wreaks absolute havoc with precision. The album crams 18 tracks into roughly 20 minutes, and each one slams you from wall to wall — making you jump right out of your seat.
As always, it's a hyperfast grindcore assault, but this time there's also a strong dark crust/hardcore atmosphere reminiscent of Skitsystem, Nuclear Death Terror, and even a hint of Martyrdöd. If you listen closely, there are depressive melodies layered in the background of many tracks. The blast beats feel like machine-gun fire, hammering your brain, while razor-sharp guitar riffs pump pure aggression and madness. The new guitarists truly deliver.
The vocals are ferocious, switching between brutal growls and high-pitched screams, oozing with rage.
Standout tracks include:
“Assertion to Demean” with its explosive opening
“Submission to Hold” and “Let It Go” with their pounding, addictive rhythms
“Resolution” featuring punishing drums and an anthemic chorus
“Filthy Fucking Punks” and “Resuscitate” — the clearest examples of that dark crust vibe I mentioned
In short, Phobia sticks to its no-compromise formula of noise-driven chaos.
Warning: May cause sudden psychotic episodes and a strong urge to throw yourself out the window. Grind responsibly.