2020 has been a year to remember, or perhaps one better forgotten. However,
there were a number of great releases that came out during this pandemic. For my year end “best of” recap I’ve chosen to focus on my favourite Windsor and Detroit releases of the year.
Marusya - Divisive
My favourite local release, perhaps my favourite release period, is from Windsor's own Marusya. Entitled "Divisive" it was recorded in 2017 and released this past December and has certainly been worth the wait. Musically, the Fall of Efrafa influence is still apparent especially in songs like "This 'incendiary rhetoric' is just the beginning". Bits and pieces remind me of Masakari, Storm of Sedition and AK-47 at times, but Marusya have a sound all their own. Broadly I suppose this could be classified as Red Anarchist Black Metal though it is far more hardcore/crust punk than metal with a decidedly anti-capitalist/anti-colonialist/anti-fascist ideology at the heart of it all.
Proceeds from "Divisive" will be donated to the 1492 Land Back Lane legal fund in support of the Six Nations resistance to the appropriation of indigenous lands and their defence of Native sovereignty. Needless to say, this is essential and worthy of your support. This is why I still listen to hardcore.
Jesus Wept - Apartheid Redux
My favourite release out of Detroit this past year comes courtesy of Jesus Wept and a slab of crushingly heavy death metal entitled Apartheid Redux. Formed in 2017, Jesus Wept features a couple guys who’ve done stints in Boreworm and Sunlight’s Bane so you know they know a little something about creating heavy music. Not easily categorized, Jesus Wept incorporate elements of hardcore and black ‘n’ roll into their death metal making for a very brutal yet still catchy amalgamation. More than one reviewer has favourably compared Apartheid Redux to Heartwork-era Carcass and the comparison is apt both musically and vocally. You could slip tracks like Buried Face Down and Comfortably Dumb onto a Heartwork re-release and I doubt anyone would question it. Their cover of W.A.SP.s Animal (Fuck Like a Beast) fits seamlessly into the mix providing evidence of their ability to channel various influences to create something uniquely their own.
