Muscle Vest were one of the greatest discoveries of 2021 as the filth-mongers made their intentions known in quick fashion – noise and fucking lots of it. Well, now they’re back with their third EP, Hot Hot Hate. Turning in more of the same filthy noise rock and sounding even more angry about modern society (and who could blame them?), they’ve delivered another four songs not for the faint-hearted.
What becomes apparent in one listen of this EP is that Muscle Vest sound even more unhinged than they did previously. As vocals are delivered with anger and anguish in equal measure, frustration is laid bare at the way society treats women, the fight to succeed rather than simply survive, and trying not to drown as mid-life hits.
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Nowhere does the band sound more frenzied than on “Don’t Dream” as vocals fight to keep pace with the screaming guitar and frenetic drums. However, lying just under it is another, far more sinister guitar, growling and hinting at the danger lurking below. Indeed, as the vocals scream in defiance to never give up as it bleeds into “Solitary Life”, gasps start to punctuate the vocals, showing the effort put in to keep up with the band.
Meanwhile, the aforementioned “Solitary Life” is relentless and oppressive. Drums are manic whilst the guitars are ruthlessly filthy, droning and hinting at some of The Hyena Kill’s more experimental moments. Yet they still manage to be thunderously thrashy, matching up with the manic delivery of the vocals, following on from its predecessor.
Elsewhere, “Fun Imaginative Murders” suggests the idea of adding murder to the creative industries. You know, music, writing, acting, murder; all those usual endeavours. However, whilst screams do make up for half the vocal delivery on this song, the snarling delivery present makes the song, especially given its lyrical content, far more sinister. As the jagged punk riff wraps itself around the doom-infused drone, the threat matches the act itself, bringing viciousness and threats into one succinct song, an oncoming, and very real, danger.
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Hot Hot Hate is an aptly named EP. Muscle Vest’s hate for their targets are white hot. Continuing to be one of the most ridiculously noisy and filthy bands I’ve heard and keeping the momentum going for a third EP is something they should be proud of. There’s not much evolution to be found other than they now have managed to make themselves sound even more unchained and frantic, both of which are welcome. With a couple of songs not crossing the three-minute threshold, there’s been a few listens where I could have sworn I’ve only listened to three tracks, not four. However, it’s maybe best they stick to EPs because one listen of this will leave you breathless so who knows how a listener could handle a full album.
Hot Hot Hate is out now
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