Pissgrave - Malignant Worthlessness LP

’m too frightened to review the latest Pissgrave record so instead I’m going to highlight some positives I can deduct from the back cover band photo…. All four members of Pissgrave seem to invest in long term use items of clothing, rejecting fast fashion and brand signifiers for robust work boots that I’m sure they’ll get years more use out of than a pair of Reebok Classics.

Getting together and playing xtreme music is a fantastic way to keep the mind sharp and the body in shape, they set a great example of how to keep friends into your 30s and how to combat the male loneliness epidemic. All in all, the creation of ‘Malignant Worthlessness’ is an activity full of social and civilisational value.

Ok sorry for being silly (but also somewhat serious) about this significant slab of Death Metal, I just don’t have any more synonyms for brutal in the tank today. ‘Malignant Worthlessness’ is supremely thrilling and unhinged stuff, it’ll be on my best 2025 list for sure. Pissgrave capture the primitive essence of Death Metal, but also carve out their own unrelenting and bizarre sound.

I recently got hooked on Morbid Angel’s 7th studio album ‘Heretic’. An album that, unlike their first 6, no one has ever recommended to me. It’s got a weird almost no-bass, spongey guitar mix that a lot of people hate but paired with the hypnotising riffs, I find it very satisfying. I have to wonder if members of Pissgrave have a soft spot for ‘Heretic’, cause I feel a similar twisted and gratifying transcendence here. - Nic

Made it onto our ‘Best of 2025 (So Far!)’ list. View collection here