Misconducters
New Blood

June 2010
Released: 2010, Fall of Eden Records
Rating: 3.5/5
Reviewer: Aaron Yurkiewicz

Once upon a time, it was okay for bands to fall outside of perceived genre boundaries. If you were into punk, hardcore, metal, or country, you could openly flaunt those influences without being taunted as “sellouts” or not being “true,” whatever the hell that means. If it weren’t for bands like Motorhead, Cro-Mags, Discharge and D.R.I. (among plenty others), there wouldn’t be a Sepultura, Machine Head, or Fear Factory. The UK’s Misconducters are one of those bands that still defy genre boundaries, but will either be too punk for some or too metal for others. Put your preconceptions to the side, because they’ve got a new EP out that’s pretty good regardless of where you try to peg them.



NEW BLOOD follows up 2009’s self-released (and equally impressive) BRAINDEAD, and is 12 minutes of straight ahead, no-nonsense crunch. The first two tracks, “Blind Fate” and “No More” feel like 1982-era Circle Jerks covering AC/DC, while “Passive” has a decidedly edgier, pre-thrash execution. The tunes are stripped down and fast, smacking you like a hit and run accident, but are catchy enough that you’ll likely find yourself giving them a second and third spin. More importantly, they sound like a band having fun.



Misconducters have garnered some well deserved praise from the likes of metal Hall of Famers Mike Browning (Nocturnus, Morbid Angel) and Paul Speckman (if I have to tell you he’s the dude from Master, you shouldn’t be reading this), so open your mind and open your ears. NEW BLOOD is a good time, and best of all, the 3 tracks are available for free download here: http://www.last.fm/music/Misconducters/New+Blood