It’s been a while since we’ve covered some grindcore here, so it seems like the right time. One of the most–if not the most–intense genres of metal and/or hardcore and/or noise (depending on which angle is taken), grindcore is generally an acquired taste and is more often than not a ‘love it or hate it’ genre with very little room for bystanders. Having emerged in the 1980s as an ever-increasingly intense subgenre of hardcore punk, it is generally characterized by ridiculously fast, and very short songs. The genre has also been heavily influenced by death metal and experimental noise.
The latter is the case for our featured artist, Demonic Dismemberment. In the late 90s grindcore became more and more experimental, often being recorded by solo artists using synthetic instrumentation, including distorted vocals. This particular subgenre of grindcore is sometimes called “noisecore” (not to be confused with the chaotic metalcore subgenre of the same name).
The band comprises solo member Hayden Edwards, who formed the project in Sacramento, CA somewhere in the 2000s. The project had two releases, both collaborations with other Christian grindcore projects: 2007’s 6-Way Sin Decomposition Split (with Flactorophia, Vomitous Discharge, Eternal Mystery, Vomitorial Corpulence, and Engravor); and 2008’s Human Depravity split with Rehumanize (itself a collaboration between Broc Toney of Eternal Mystery and Felipe Diez of Encryptor and Sorrowstorm).
The lyrics and topics of this scene are just as intense as the music–at times juvenile in their approach. But let’s not be too hasty to write them off. These kids were using their love for intense music to share their faith in Christ, in a genre whose focus was often on gore, violence, and porn. Christians in the genre often used lyrical intensity and musical intensity to try to connect with fans of the genre.
“Indelible” is taken from the Human Depravity split release. Play it loudly. But maybe warn your neighbors first.