Philadelphia’s Bandit have spent more than a decade making grindcore that’s as catchy as it is completely unhinged. Along the way, they’ve toured with Chepang, shared stages with Pig Destroyer, and earned the admiration of the latter’s vocalist J.R. Hayes, who released the CD edition of their 2023 album, Siege of Self, through his Mold Dominion label.
Three years after Siege of Self, Bandit are back with Fresh Horrors, and judging by what I've heard, subtlety still isn’t part of the program.
Fresh Horrors is an absolute workout, packed with unhinged riffs, manic vocals, and the kind of blast-blessed drumming that makes you wonder how the kit survived the recording session. Behind it is Surya Pun (Chepang), a powerhouse whose playing brings to mind former Wormrot drummer Vijesh Ghariwala. Pun beats the drums like they owe him rent, somehow keeping everything locked in while the rest of Bandit goes completely off the rails.
“The Red Road” is the first taste of Fresh Horrors and features guest vocals from Brian Cook (Botch, Russian Circles, These Arms Are Snakes). Yes, Cook is on vocals here rather than bass, adding another unexpected wrinkle to the track. The accompanying video was shot, directed, and edited by Mitch Wells (Thou, Big Garden):
Meyer sounds right at home in the middle of the wreckage, while McBride fires off riffs and grooves at breakneck speed, occasionally letting one breathe just long enough to show how nasty it is on its own.
Fresh Horrors was engineered by Kevin Bernsten (Full of Hell, Genocide Pact) at Developing Nations Studios, and the production gives all of that chaos plenty of weight without sanding down the ugly edges.
Every guitar riff, drum hit, and vocal comes through with the necessary punishment.
Bandit will play with Pig Destroyer at The 8x10 in Baltimore, Maryland, on October 24.
Fresh Horrors arrives this winter.
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Bandit on social media: Instagram
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