A Thrilling Living release. Edition of 400 on black vinyl with risographed sleeve and insert.
"Composed cacophony, desperate dirges, pieces of the punk puzzle churning and crashing together to form one insistent and determined whole. This is brute force music, the sound of the claustrophobia of London, the claustrophobia of being a human being trapped inside of your own brain. First time on vinyl—400 copies on black vinyl in risographed sleeves designed by Leigh Arthur with a lyric insert illustrated by singer Camille Rearden."
"As if SBSM’s smasher wasn’t enough, Thrilling Living reach deep into a London dungeon to pull out Scrap Brain. They’re a real drain-clog of a punk group, ripe for filing next to other London-based miscreants like Good Throb and Frau. Like those other two, Scrap Brain’s sound is distinguishable while sharing the same sense of vitriol, tension and probably more than a little misandry. Their songs are anchored by thick bass and bouncing floor-tom, and come to life through mortally-wounded guitar and motormouth ranting. Vocalist Camille Rearden gives us the news and the weather while delivering their words, turning a song like “Don’t Talk To Me” into some sort of Rudimentary Peni-esque feral thrash, far beyond the GG Allin cover I had initially hoped for. Most tracks start as dirges, and a few finish that way, although Scrap Brain happily utilize tempo changes as a means for delivering their manic sensibility. Proud to say that I saw them live a few months ago and they left before returning the favor later that night – they had a Good Throb reunion gig to attend instead, and I would’ve been suspicious if they hadn’t." - Yellow Green Red
"London four-piece Scrap Brain play sludgy, dirge-filled hardcore punk, brimming with angst and attitude; their weird, dissonant riffs, coupled with singer Camille Rearden’s abrasive snarl and clever lyrics, recall the group’s ‘90s predecessors, Huggy Bear. “Don’t look at me / Don’t talk to me / Don’t stand near me / Don’t think about me,” Rearden intones again and again on the second track, a useful incantation for anyone dealing with unwanted attention. The EP ends with a bang with “Scrap Brain,” a jammed-out, aggressive ode to dissociation that builds and builds—until it all falls apart." - Bandcamp Daily, The Best Punk Albums of 2018
credits
released February 1, 2018
Recorded December 2016 by John Hannon at No Recording Studios.
Mastered by Daniel Husayn. Artwork by Leigh Ak. Lyric sheet by Camille Rearden.
Photos by Avalon Hale-Thomson, Sean Haughton and Helen Messenger.
Thanks to Grace Ambrose, Bryony Beynon, DIY Space for London and First Timers.
More breakneck hardcore from the always-great La Vida Es En Mus label; Arms Race pairs brutal riffs with death metal growls. Bandcamp New & Notable Feb 12, 2018