Consensus Madness: Endeavors 12"

Consensus Madness: Endeavors 12" (Iron Lung Records) Chicago’s Consensus Madness brings us the long-awaited follow-up to their 2023 EP, once again via the mighty Iron Lung Records. I was in the tank for Consensus Madness before I heard a note, since I’ve been following all four of the group’s musicians since long before Consensus Madness started. I’m sure Endeavorswould have caught my ear regardless, though, as it’s exactly the kind of blazing, hook-filled punk record I love. Despite being composed almost entirely of sub-two-minute songs that rip at hardcore tempos, Endeavors sidesteps hardcore’s penchant for messiness and chaos; it’s all clean lines, driving rhythms, and simple and sturdy chord progressions pounded out as root notes and bar chords with minimal embellishment. This approach does a couple of things. First, it places the focus squarely on the vocals, which are excellent, delivered with a charismatic speak/shout and lyrics that examine the moral and existential conundrums of middle age with thoughtfulness that resists rumination or passivity. Second, the “clean lines” approach means that when Consensus Madness departs from that relentless forward push with a bass line that pulls against the song’s main rhythm or a guitar chord with a touch of dissonance, you really notice, and these subtle moves give Endeavors personality more effectively than a less considered, throw-everything-against-the-wall approach. Long story short, if you love the fast-n-hooky sound of Dangerhouse bands like the Eyes, the Bags, and Rhino 39, this is going to be right up your alley.