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From Halifax, UK, RETSU is here with nine soul crushing punk bangers. An amalgamation of several different British influences including (but not limited to) the likes of BROKEN BONES, DISCHARGE, RUDIMENTARY PENI, and ENGLISH DOGS all filtered through Scoot (EXTINCTION OF MANKIND, DOOM, etc) and his signature guitar tone and crust infused dark (yet catchy) riffs. The lyrics along with the urgency of the songs and driving beats are a reflection of life on planet Earth in 2024 and the dark future that lies ahead.
Our take: Black Water Records brings us the debut release from this new UK hardcore punk band featuring guitarist Scoot, who played in Extinction of Mankind and Doom. To me, Retsu sounds like a UK hardcore band whose members have grown and evolved—particularly in their playing and recording skills—but who never lost their anger at the system or their taste for a nasty riff. The riffs are my favorite part of this record, totally steeped in Discharge circa Hear Nothing, See Nothing, Say Nothing, but with a knack for finding clever innovations that keep me from feeling like I’ve heard it before. The rhythm section is heavy and mean, but does a lot with stops, starts, and change-ups to keep the songs spicy, and while the clear production and super locked-in playing helps keep all this legible, it may sound a bit too “pro” or slick for the real down-in-the-dirt crusties. Lyrics tackle contemporary topics like Brexit and Nazis’ continued infiltration of the underground music scene (“NSBS”). Cheers to Black Water Records for giving this release the perfect home in the US.