‘Mass psychology weaponized, by the “best” minds of our time, a new feudalism…in a world condemned to die’ (Heel Of The Next)

New York’s Flower made quite the impact with their utterly ferocious 2022 debut full-length, Hardly A Dream, and this follow-up EP takes their hardcore infused crust punk to a new level of intensity.  Heel Of The Next unfurls with waves of discordant feedback, before erupting into fierce metallic riffage that forges a bleakly infectious groove throughout the track.  Thematically, the song interrogates the social and political facets shaping our current plight, closing on an ominous spoken word finale (‘Someone to blame, as end draws near, someone to hate, someone to fear’).

A spine-tingling opening sets the tone for Physical God, before again surging into the band’s darkly dissonant guitars, underpinned by a powerfully supple rhythm section, as the lyrics tackle our distorted economic priorities.  Across both tracks, harsh, sneered vocals are a highlight – vehemently rhythmic, dripping with disdain, but retaining nuanced inflection.  They bring this second track to a suitably venomous conclusion (‘Idols of gold, melted made new, physical god, twisted into…you’).  A vivid re-imagining of 1980s’ stenchcore (think, perhaps, Nausea meets There Is No Law In Battle-era Bolt Thrower) that skilfully refashions its influences for these rather dark times.