Artist: NW77 / HCG / DFC / Life in Grave
Title: Play Fast Ride Easy (4-Way Split)
Release: Split CS
Year: 2021
Label: Audio Epidemic Records / Seven Oaks Records
Four Brazilian bands with three songs each. From first sight you can tell there’s a generous amount of ’80s crossover thrash in the vein of legendary bands like Ratos de Porão, Olho Seco, Attomica, and Armagedom.
NW77 (Nuclear Weapon 77) have been around for over a decade now, and I have to admit I’m a bit ashamed I had not heard them until now. Fast, solid songs that rip through the speakers with a barrage of thrash metal riffs, wild solos and a blistering vocal delivery with maximum attitude. I imagine a huge circle pit going down when these guys play, everyone with a delirious grin on their faces. Easily my favorite band on the split.
HCG (Hardcore de Garage)’s sound is raw, primitive and heavy on early ’80s hardcore punk influences. I’m not a huge fan of the live recording quality of these three songs but they are short enough to keep from being overwhelming.
The flipside starts with true veterans of Brazilian hardcore punk thrash DFC (Distrito Federal Caos). The band formed in 1993 and continue to stand proud and kick ass no matter what. Their part of the split kicks off with a short skit intro before DFC’s singer comes in and spits some intensely fast verses over crossover thrash at full speed ahead. The band doesn’t give you a chance to catch your breath and continues the ragefest with two more songs of the same aggressive riffs, fast paced beats and unforgiving vocals. Three raging thrashers that will leave you wanting more.
Ceilândia’s Life In Grave are the youngest formation here. They formed in 2019 and these tracks appeared on their 2020 Graveweed EP. Right off the bat, you get an excess of Sodom and Kreator-inspired thrash riffs with lyrics revolving around themes of death and smoking weed. The band calls their style pothead thrashcore which is fine but the singing is more or less awful and embarrassing at times. There are some good moments throughout, but I just cannot get past the vocals.
The record was released on a yellow tape through Audio Epidemic Records in the US and a red tape through Seven Oaks Records in Europe. NW77 and DFC are definitely worth the listen.
