South Carolina grind quartet SLUGCRUST have today shared their new single, Drag Me to Agony, and shared an accompanying live music video for the song. Drag Me to Agony is the second track to be taken from their forthcoming debut album, Ecocide, set for release on September 9: SLUGCRUST – DRAG ME TO AGONY (OFFICIAL VIDEO) – YouTube
Speaking on the single, SLUGCRUST comment: „Drag Me to Agony is a writhing prayer amid the unfulfillment of torment; the paralytic plea to a demonic audience, asking them to flay my skin and wear it as desperate means to take me to Hell.“
With two ferocious EPs already under their belts, the breakneck speed with which SLUGCRUST operate gives a fair indicator of their approach. However, their focus isn’t compromised by their accelerated work ethic; if anything the urgency of their message is given further impetus courtesy of their relentless audio violence. Drawing from various literary inspirations the political issues at the heart of SLUGCRUST’s output is given a darkly poetic twist.
SLUGCRUST – whose line up features members of WVRM – seeks to bring political issues to light in a way that galvanises action and activism. The title derives from the process of destroying environmental structures or ecosystems, either via natural means or – as is more pertinent in the case of this album – deliberate human actions. Depravity is a recurring theme throughout the lyrics; emotional and physical immorality and degeneracy permeates the twelve tracks that make up Ecocide.
The formation of all SLUGCRUST tracks start with the skeleton of the drums; the meat and muscle of each missive comes from the guitar and bass, with the lyrics and vocals being the skin binding it all together. The album was engineered by guitarist Derick Caperton, before being mixed and mastered by Cody Davidson of Sanguisugabogg. Although primarily embedded in grindcore, SLUGCRUST also dabbles in crust punk and even doom to bring together their ominous, explosive take on extreme metal. Embracing the rawness of punk with the familiar ferocity of blast beats is the foundation of their work.
Ecocide is an uncompromising calling card from a band eager to unleash.