‘Explosion of wealth, by murderous events, environmental and civil threats.  Constructed to loot prosperity, system benefiting from trading death. Parasites don’t suffer’ (Security By Sacrifice)

Hailing from Austin, and featuring members of Severed Head Of State, Vaaska, and Program, Peace Decay return with a self-titled follow-up to their 2022 debut Death Is Only….  The band continue to evolve their sound, which is a searing fusion of Burning Spirits Japanese hardcore and more contemporary neo-crust influences.  Setting the foundations are gruff, guttural vocals, galloping crust riffage, and a thunderous rhythm section surging forward in punishing lockstep.

Meanwhile, it is the lead guitar that takes centre stage, at times working in parallel with the wider band, and at the other times carving a more distinct path.  Throughout, it maintains a highly melodic, dramatic, rhythmically dense texture with soaring solos that very much draw on New Wave of British Heavy Metal traditions.

Highlights include the groove laden Lights Out, Hell In and swaggering Repetition.  Lyrically, the band favour darkly allusive imagery as they explore the slow violence of capitalism on Lights Out, Hell In and Security By Sacrifice, while Parasitic Jackal and First Order grapple with the corrosive consequences that ensue.