‘They sell us hate, They sell us fear, No savings, No rest, We’re drowning in debt, Pay check to pay check’ (A Life Not For Living)

The debut 12-inch, Damage Is Done, from Berlin’s Nerve Center is a ferociously honed one that revels in the stomp.  Slabs of downtuned, darkly metallic riffage form the bedrock and are complemented by a rhythm section that brings a menacing swagger to bear (full credit to the production here, as the filthy bass lines remain firmly resonant throughout).  It is a barbarous onslaught, yet one that rarely sees the need to stir itself from its mid-paced lumber.  Velocity rather than speed is the defining ingredient.

The final touch is a truly savage vocal performance, rooted in desperation and defiance in equal measure.  Lyrical connections are built between economic exploitation, environmental degradation, and personal battles to retain a sense of perspective within this malaise.  Personal highlights are House Cleaning – not least its bruising climatic breakdown – and the punishing intensity of Pick Your Poison.