Nukkehammer: A Distant Hissing In Your Ear 7"

7 1/2 years after Nukkehammer's debut 7", the world only feels like it is spiraling further into darkness at the hands of psychopathic egomaniacs. While our homeland becomes selfish enough to eat itself, this is our blast of shit and noise pollution against the whirlwind. Nukkehammer finally officially releases the second E.P. - A Distant Hissing In Your Ear. This E.P. contains a studio recording of 7 tracks that push the boundaries of what your stereo speakers can handle. 6 of the songs are unrelenting bombastic hardcore punk tunes while the final track hits you with a dirge that tests your resolve. Recorded at CDR by Benjamin Holesapple in Columbus, Ohio, mastered by Audiosiege, cover artwork by Alex Warhead.

Our take: Latest EP from this band out of Columbus, Ohio, coming a mere eight years (!!!) after their debut. I was a fan of Nukkehammer back then, and after spinning A Distant Hissing in Your Ear I’m even more of a fan now. While the record doesn’t sound out of step with the times, it also doesn’t feel constrained by the current scene’s trends and styles, as you might expect from a band that has been around for so long. The standout track for me is the opening “Kills by Nuclear,” which captures the manic style of peak-era Gauze (albeit through a grainy filter), but the wild-sounding “Skeletal Hand of Reagan” and brutal, Corrosion of Conformity-esque “Chainsaw of Storms” are also totally ripping. There’s a lot to digest on this EP, but if you’re the type who demands more from your hardcore than just a competent take on an established style I recommend picking this up.