Asphyxiation: RHOADS

Thunder Bay’s hardcore punk one-man-band, RHOADS, has done it once again. In these (musical) notes from the underground, Asphyxiation embodies the collective frustration with “the system” and transmutes this anger into powerful prose that galvanizes the listener away from political despair and into action. Overall, ferocity and anarchy define the EP, but not without leaving room for genuinely profound messaging. In “System Decay,” you ask “how?” and the drums tell you to “unite!”; you cry “help!” and the guitar assures you “fight!” In “Capitalistic Scum,” nihilism clashes with hope in one big cacophony of barking lyrics as blunt as the vocals that carry them. My favourite track off the collection, “Leave Me Be,” reminds me of “Living in Darkness” by Agent Orange, as they both satisfy my constant craving for a misanthropic anthem. Asphyxiation by RHOADS is a gut-punching EP that does not hold back with its swings, both sonically and lyrically.

-Abigail Heron