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 ABRASIVE OUTLETS - EXTINCTION OF MANKIND
By Nathan T. Birk
Whereas most bands in this hardcore-oriented section fall under the banner of metal dressed in different (short-haired/cargo-shorted) clothing, Extinction of Mankind are more or less simply HEAVY. In fact, with time this British quartet’s crust-indebted ‘core has become one cranky, absolutely crushing tank-tread of righteous anger and even-more-righteous aggression, the copious decibels dripping with dread and dire urgency.
And the juggernaut rolls on with the band’s second and latest al
bum, The Nightmare Seconds, released during the latter half of 2004. Compared to the more raging, ragged D-beat stylings of, say, the preceding Baptised in Shit album or the band’s split LP with Misery, The Nightmare Seconds operates at a more measured, wholly more ominous gait, where granite-thick chords of chugging riffery roll atop said boulder-rumble of rhythmic battery. For convenience’s sake, think To Mega Therion-era Celtic Frost locking horns with Arise-era Amebix—perhaps not surprisingly, EoM cover that title track of the latter-named band’s—with equally looming shades of Broken Bones and Bolt Thrower. Recognize!
“That sounds like a fair description,” chuckles six-stringer Scoot. “We were very Antisect-inspired at the beginning, and since I joined everyone says it’s gone more Amebix heavy-sounding. I don't care as long as we keep it heavy, but I’d never want to lose the punk roots of it all.
“The initial goals were to play Antisect-inspired anarcho crust-punk and keep the flag flying from all those classic ‘80s bands,” the guitarist looks back even further. “I've known EoM since they started, and the lyrics have always been quite socially aware—things that piss us off, anger us, frustrate us, and the general state of the world and how it's slowly getting ripped apart, fueled by war, politics and money. As a band, we just keep on doing what we do, playing heavy crust, and see where it leads next.”
Indeed, “heavy crust” is an equally apt description, as Extinction of Mankind are quite obviously well-rooted in the hardcore punk realm. However, as long as we’re splitting hairs here, EoM uphold a different tradition of UK punk: We're not talking the class of '77, but more so the early '80s, counting the considerable likes of Discharge, GBH, the Exploited, Discharge, Chaos UK, Icons of Filth, Crass, and the list goes on and on. Then again, with EoM moving away from overt anarcho sounds and more toward the shit-heavy realm with The Nightmare Seconds, one must wonder whether the band feels a kinship with that lineage or the artier, “weirder” end of that outgrowth, such as Deviated Instinct and the aforementioned Amebix and Broken Bones.
“Again, you’ve summed us all up,” Scoot chuckles again, “I’d say all of it. We do share a kinship with both lineages! We actually just played a benefit memorial gig for Stig [Icons of Filth vocalist], who sadly passed away last year, and all money raised goes to Stig's family. [EoM vocalist] Ste is from those classic anarcho-punk days, [bassist] Ginny is an old punk, [drummer] Tony came from a more metal background, and I loved the mid/late-‘80s crust-punk era, and still do.
“There’s no plans,” responds the guitarist about the gradual, albeit more dynamic ‘n’ distinct downshift of gears over the years, “we just get on with it and see what comes out of the practice room. Most songs are written whilst suffering from the worst hangovers! Slowed down, you say – I reckon we'll have to speed it up! We have a lot of anger and frustration in us, and we do our best to channel that through the music and lyrics.”
Similarly, this feature's for a metal mag, but it's gonna be in the HC section: Does the man feel things are too compartmentalized across musical scenes?
“Thanks to big companies,” Scoot spits, “the ‘commercial’ music scene is a fuckin’ joke that we really want no part of, but also there are so many subgenres now, it’s hard to keep up with it. I see the majority of all the MTV crap as a fashion that’s seriously damaged punk and metal. But regarding ‘sections’ in mags, that’s up to the mag-in-question. I'd hope the reader has an open mind and will take an interest in different sorts of music and what that band’s about! There are so many brilliant unheard bands that would wipe the floor with most of these so-called ‘punk’ bands. Anyone not sure where to look for these bands, check out Profane Existence’s site [www.profaneexistance.com].”
Finally, up next on EoM’s chopping block are two brand-new tracks, one for a double-CD benefit comp for the aforementioned deceased Stig and another for the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse comp 7” on Loderbrock Records, not to mention various shows this year in Finland, Holland, and “hopefully Japan and New Zealand.” Likewise, Scoot assures us that preparations have begun in earnest for the next Extinction album. But what is it about crusts generally being older than 30?!
“I'm only just 30,” scoffs Scoot in response to the admittedly flippant query. “It's what we’ve always loved, so what's there to change?! We can't even imagine to be different from who we are, what we've grown up loving—if you’re into it, why should you stop something you love when you reach a certain age? So, all of you young ‘uns, pay heed because one day you'll be in our situation!”
www.extinctionofmankind.com
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