‘Another four year sentence, Soaked up and neutralised, Purged of all hope, Snared for the sacrifice’ (Crucifixion)

Tramadol return with a new four-track 7-inch and follow up to 2021’s Demo.  Every aspect of this EP sounds simply massive and is delivered with a sledgehammer intensity.  The fierce waves of metallic-edged riffage and a ferocious rhythm section coalesce to unleash an unrelenting onslaught.  Meanwhile, the urgent, burly vocals explore our hollowed-out democracy, the self-serving myth of the rules-based order, and our struggle to escape an economic system that feeds off division and the scapegoating of the already marginalised.

The Leeds band kick off proceedings with the rampaging Crucifixion that bleeds into the swaggering bass line and shrieking feedback that herald the arrival of the bruising Easy Targets.  The surging flip side opener, Calculated Slaughter, is bookended with brightly squalling solos, before the galloping vehemence of Lucid Dream brings matters to a suitably crushing climax. All of which is rounded off with some absolutely stunning artwork courtesy of vocalist, Thomas Wade.