Rotten Sound

Rotten Sound know how to get a point across. For more than three decades, the Finnish grindcore veterans have raised the alarm about our cursed existence. Even though they outran the coming apocalypse on their previous long-player, the band are far from stopping to catch their breath. Few extreme bands have enjoyed the shelf life of Rotten Sound. Since emerging from underground Vaasa with their debut album Under Pressure, the Finnish exports have cultivated a reputation as one of the larger scene’s most pungent yet stabilizing presences. Niinimaa first grabbed the mic not long after guitarist Mika Aalto started the band back in 1993, while drummer Sami Lava has held the throne since 2004, when original stickman Kai Hahto left to found Wintersun. Early albums Murderworks and Exit are still widely cited road maps for grindcore, though their high-speed blend of classic D-beat punk and Swedish death metal has only sharpened with each successive stab in the studio. Across eight tracks that span just under 10 minutes, Rotten Sound’s whopping 11th EP chews through a variety of political talking points. But while our world leaders need to clean up their acts, there’s nothing stale about this band’s brand of take-no-prisoners grindcore. Lead single “Brave New World” greets the ears with a barrage of blast beats that will send even the most decorated of battle vests crawling for safety. An atomic burst from Finland’s grindcore vets.