Maladjusted

Death is the Only Relief (2014)

Benjamin Brian Kruger

It’s 2015 and there are still stellar powerviolence bands, the world is alright after all. Enter Maladjusted, a self-described intersectional hardcore band from Los Angeles. They are vegan, straight edge and sick of human bullshit. After giving this EP a spin or two I immediately felt like I needed a Despise You patch or some cut-off shorts.

Nothing fancy or novel about this band, they are a pretty straight forward powerviolence act. With some driving, down-tuned riffs backed by a brooding rhythm section, Maladjusted scores one point for the genre. Never being one for the tackier, goofball variety of this hardcore sub-division, Death is the Only Relief grapples with all things serious.

“Nausea” opens the record, keeping it brief and fairly ambiguous in its lyrical content, it sets the tone for the EP. “Submission” and “Loathing” are laced with speedy, thrashed-out riffs that lead to withdrawal-inducing breakdowns. “Prey” breaks away from the rest of the record, displaying some heavy '90s screamo influence. I am kind of a sucker for a good sound clip and Maladjusted comes through with a dope Sylvia Plath quote.

If you need to take a day off from the office and mosh in some Vans all day, then let Death is the Only Relief be your soundtrack. They have kept it mostly left coast for their live gigs so far but I bet this band makes its way out east in true DIY fashion, driving a shitty van with a back seat full of peanut chews and an itinerary that thrives on punk time. Go scoop this from them at their Bandcamp.