Slaughterhouse take no prisoners on confrontational EP 'Sick And Tired'
With an uniquely metallic approach to hardcore punk, Slaughterhouse has firmly established their reputation for brutally energetic live sets that balance technical precision on the razor’s edge of unmitigated chaos. The band’s latest EP, Sick And Tired, is a tour-de-force showcase of their greatest strengths that pays homage to tradition while launching off onto their own trajectory.
Sick And Tired opens with “DNA,” setting the bar high with a blisteringly relentless assault exploding with frothy vitriol unleashed at gatling-gun cadence. Juxtaposing melodic hooks against the overpowering cacophony of pummeling rhythms and jagged guitar, Slaughterhouse declare their thesis with irrefutable evidence of the band’s mesmerizing ability to wield weapons-grade aggression with the terrifying precision and devastating impact of laser guided artillery.
The scorched earth policy continues into “Sick And Tired,” as the band thrashes like frenzied sharks consumed by bloodlust, whipping up a deadly deluge of teeth and instinct that shreds misguided preconceptions with manic ADHD fury. Bass-forward breakdowns bookend explosions of emotion, leveraged as platforms for frontwoman Meriel O’Connell to pounce at her prey with predatory intent.
Covering one of the most immediately recognizable hardcore songs ever written is a bold move, but Slaughterhouse imbues Black Flag’s timeless expressions of rage and frustration with false friends on a sterling rendition of “My War” that rings even truer in today’s polarized society. Amplified at nearly every level, Slaughterhouse demonstrate a reverence for the trailblazing efforts of their forebearers while boldly staking their own claim on the ever evolving battlefield of punk. It’s an appropriate centerpiece for the EP that anchors the tracklist’s original compositions with an element of familiarity and sheds light on the core of Slaughterhouse’s ethos.
An undercurrent of minimal, Carpenter-esque synth pushes “Smiles” into slasher flick territory recalling the band’s 2022 Michael Myers inspired single and lends a gritty, cinematic angle to a lethal attack on two dimensional poseurs posturing from behind the shoulders of a bogus posse. Daring haters to fuck around and find out with switchblade severity, O’Connell’s vocals drip with venomous sarcasm as the band menacingly shifts tempos in a disorienting power play that keeps adversaries reeling on the back foot.
Blasting towards the finish line with “Whips And Chains,” Slaughterhouse crackles through a hyperspeed come-on that baits and teases with domineering attitude, strutting confidently and challenging awe-struck suitors to rise to the occasion and step up to the level demanded to meet the needs of the object of their affection. By the time the dust settles on this sub-14 minute ripper of an EP, Slaughterhouse have made their case as one of the most thrilling bands currently bending the framework of punk and metal into their own unique image, setting the stage for a sure to be legendary run of future conquests.
Sick And Tired is out now on Pirates Press Records. Get the limited vinyl here. Stream the EP on Spotify and follow Slaughterhouse on Instagram.
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