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Release date: August 21, 2026
Label: Tankcrimes
Genre(s): Deathgrind, grindcore
Deathgrave’s third full-length, Hell Is Evil, is a 32-minute slab of serious grindcore. The Bay Area outfit—guitarist Greg Wilkinson (Autopsy, Brainoil), vocalist Andre Cornejo, bassist Fern Alberts, and drummer Clint Zane—expands their signature chaos by weaving death metal, thrash, punk, industrial, doom, noise rock, and d-beat into a seamless, ambitious whole. Mixed and mastered by Wilkinson at Earhammer Studios, the record feels both untamed and meticulously crafted, with thicker riffs that somehow keep the listener afloat amid the carnage.
Opener “Here Is Evil” (or “Hell Is Evil”) sets a polished yet organic tone, its three-minute runtime allowing grooves, arpeggios, and berserker bursts to develop beyond mere angry spasms. “Hard to Swallow” features guest vocals from Chris Reifert, lumbering under dark, doomy riffs that nod to Graves at Sea while shouts evoke Carnivore intensity. “Born From Death” unleashes pure brutality with dissonant punk undercurrents and stark lyrical commentary on restrictive abortion laws, while the nearly four-minute “Smaller and Smaller” drifts into sludge territory punctuated by blast beats.
Later tracks sustain the dynamism: “It’s Only Midnight” thrives on purposeful choruses and thrash propulsion; “Yaws 3-D” blends punk and death metal into idiosyncratic grind; and closer “27B/6” channels rough-edged Entombed-like death metal. Vocals range from gurgles and blackened shrieks to gang yells, never dominating the varied instrumentation.
Hell Is Evil proves grindcore can mature without losing its confrontational edge. Memorable songwriting, grotesque yet human-centered lyrics, and genre-bending fluidity make this one of 2026’s standout extreme releases—feral, fun, and frightfully effective.
Deathgrave: Bandcamp | Instagram
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