Oozing Wound – Whatever Forever

These Chicagoan metallers have been referred to as ‘the Nirvana of thrash’, but if that means ‘mainstream breakout certainties’ then Metallica probably have that base covered. Let’s just imagine they’re going for ‘awesome’ – a safe assumption based on Oozing Wound's heroic and unshakable devotion to the concept of The Riff.

The trio certainly thrash away confidently (and with no let-up), but it’s the tangents that offer the biggest thrills: Lightning Bolt and Jesus Lizard fans should be cheerily surprised by the frenetic chaos on display. Most entertaining are the moody squalls of Mercury in Retrograde Virus, with Zack Weil screaming ‘keep it clean’ as our eardrums slowly implode. For anyone of a more delicate persuasion, Whatever Forever will feel a bit like playing Tetris on the hardest setting while pneumatic drills chisel away at their cranium, but fuck it: there’s plenty fun to be had here. Ready for a sonic pummelling? 

Listen to: Mercury in Retrograde Virus