Blast Worship: Shock Withdrawal

Where they from?
Los Angeles, California. I know I’m addicted to watching sports because even though I don’t follow college basketball I watched like fifteen games this weekend. Is there any better way to disassociate from an uncomfortable social situation than to just stare at your phone and watch Yale beat Auburn? THEY’RE A FOURTEEN SEED, WHATEVER THAT MEANS!

Why the hype?
If you’re anything like me, you’re a huge Maruta fan (and gambling addict). The Miami-based group were easily one of the pinnacle death/grind bands of the 2010’s, combing elements of sci-fi infused death metal riffage with downtuned crusty D-beats. On top of this diabolical stew of technicality was vocalist Mitchell Luna’s legendary lows and hi’s that simply impressed the Hell out of my 19-year-old self.

Mitchell is back with a new group, Shock Withdrawal. Much like Discordance Axis vocalist Jon Chang, Mitchell has managed to carve out a second chapter to his career that is just as essential as it’s first. The sci-fi elements remain but they’re now mixed with dark black metal-infused melodicism and an overall greater emphasis on speed.

Latest Release?
The Dismal Advance out now on Brutal Panda Records. This is probably the most traditional ‘grindcore’ record of Mitchell’s discography, with a mere 20-minute run time and nod to the godfathers Napalm Death (“Built to Suffer”). But fear not, it’s also weird and irreverent in it’s own right! Just listen to the dystopian laser light-show of “Oblivion Seeker” or the fact that there’s a song called “The Luxury of Accepting Failure!” Straight out of McLuhan’s mouth!

Fans of Noisear, Antigama and obviously Maruta should be really happy with this one. Everyone else, congratulations on getting laid in high school.